Posted on 04/22/2003 7:49:22 AM PDT by EternalHope
Microbiologist: SARS now attacking intestines
April 23 2003
The deadly SARS virus is now attacking the intestines as well as the respiratory system, a leading Hong Kong microbiologist said yesterday.
Speaking on Hong Kong radio station RTHK, Professor Malik Peiris of Hong Kong University said the change might indicate the virus had mutated, as many experts feared.
Professor Peiris is one of the microbiologists at the forefront of the Hong Kong research into the SARS virus, which killed another five people in the territory yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths to 99.
His comments come amid growing concern that the virus is becoming more virulent, with many doctors noting changes in the way the disease behaves and whom it kills.
A number of deaths over the past week have occurred in younger, previously healthy people - one being a 34-year-old pregnant women.
An increasing number of those infected with SARS are now suffering from diarrhoea. As many of two thirds of the residents who contracted SARS in the outbreak at the Amoy Gardens high-rise had diarrhoea, according to health officials.
Tom Buckley, the head of the intensive care unit at Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital, said organ failure was also now becoming more common.
"Initially patients were presenting with just respiratory failure," Dr Buckley said. "Now we're seeing renal failure and other organ failure."
Hong Kong recorded 32 new infections yesterday - 10 more than Monday - taking the total to 1434. The latest deaths were all of people over the age 65, with four having an history of chronic illness.
Announcing the latest figures, health secretary E K Yeoh said he believed SARS would not go away and the Government had to concentrate on controlling it.
"We do not anticipate that it will be eradicated completely because this virus is highly infectious," he said. "So our primary task is to reduce the size of the viral load in the community and prevent outbreaks."
DPA
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/22/1050777263907.html
... the retro terror groups want the western economies destroyed.China is the locus of western investment.
China is a perfect launching pad for a bug bomb.
Some of you reeeeeeaaaallllly have to 'reach' for your 'theories' to connect ...
"Cesspool synthesis courtesy of close animal-human contact in China"
Your first real clue will be when you go to a Walmart and there is nothing on the shelves...
Your second big clue will be when you go to Wal Mart and not only are the shelves all empty but the parking lot is empty as is the store.
Judging from the *low* rates of infection here - I'd say the truly civilized, industrialized cities where sanitary practices actually exist stand a far better chance.
Reading the history of a cholera epidemic starting in New York in about 1832/1833 (as originally brought over from the Europe) gives some insight ...
Sorry, but the virus has been gene sequenced in both Atlanta and Singapore.
It is a simple Coronavirus.
It has nothing to do with either mumps or measels viruses.
That was a story in Pravda when SARS first apeared written by a "scientist" who did not even know the difference between a bacteria and a virus as he demonstrated by some of his statements.
So9
Singapore and Toronto both have excellent sanitary practices. If it can be contained in these two cities, then I would say western nations have an excellent shot at containment as long as the number of new incoming cases is kept low.
The problem comes when/if SARS breaks out in the slums of the world's mega cities. We have one next door: Mexico City. If the medical system in Mexico City is overwhelmed, what happens next?
Is this just more contagious than TB? Why do healthcare workers not contract TB they way they are this virus? I'd be interested in your view comparing the two situations.
This will be interesting - this would also look to be the 'turing point' so to speak. Either it's 'slowed'/halted here or it will continue to 'spread' at will. This is also the underlying reason why infected person must observe requested and mandated quarantines.
I have drunk a lot of tea daily for quite a while - and the last 6 months have been sick on and off with the weirdest set of symptoms, up to and including all the SARS symptoms (but not death!!) Like a horrible flu including diarrhea and vomiting which I never get... My husband has been sick too, it's very mysterious. The clinic in this remote valley told me that there is much more sickness than usual this winter, and these symptoms are common.
So I'm womdering that maybe there are worse flus this year anyway? Or other viruses.
It would appear so. 'Virulently' so if you forgive the pun. It appears that Mother nature appears to have concocted a really successful virus with this one ...
They are constantly traveling back and forth to China!
One of the 'talking med heads' this AM mentioned that this disease (SARS) would most likely be around us forever now - spot 'breakouts' would be seen here and there but no complete eradication like we've succeeded in doing with some contagion. One thing to bear in mind - a LARGE number of people have managed to beat this 'bug' and still live.
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