Orange County Issues SARS Alert (Florida)

WESH.COM ^ | April 24, 2003 | WESH.COM

[jgrubbs]

Orange County Issues SARS Alert Travel Advisory Planned For Toronto

POSTED: 6:02 p.m. EDT April 24, 2003 UPDATED: 6:24 p.m. EDT April 24, 2003

Officials in Orange County issued a health alert for severe acute respiratory syndrome Thursday afternoon.

There's a probable case of SARS in isolation at an Orange County hospital, according to WESH NewsChannel 2 health reporter Dr. Todd Husty.

Although the case is not confirmed, health officials said they must take it seriously to protect the public. They're reportedly looking at every person the patient had contact with in the community.

Meanwhile, Toronto is the latest city to be placed on a travel advisory by the World Health Organization. Officials with the Orange County Health Department told WESH NewsChannel 2 that every person leaving Toronto will be checked for symptoms of SARS starting Friday.

Those symptoms include a fever of 100.4 or above, a dry cough, and difficulty breathing.

[LikeLight]

I'm sure the author figured that with the W in the radio station call letters, there was no reason to be redundant and name the state directly. Surely everyone would instantaneouslyy think "Ah, yes, based on that W, it must be the Florida Orange County".

[JustAnAmerican]

"137 Americans die every day in the US from pneumonia. How many from SARS?

Wonder what excuse was given for the black plague by the europeans? Which coincidently started with a great many deaths in China/Asia. Just because it isn't wiping out huge populations in the US is no reason to pass it off as a non-starter. Better safe then sorry.

[Dog Gone]

didn't think to put Florida, being there is probably an Orange County in all 50 states

Well..., if there's one in North Dakota, I'd be shocked. But it's pretty common.

[per loin]

And my question referred to the world. Do you have a point?

[PatrioticAmerican]

Orange County just didn't want to be left out...in case there was federal money to be had.

[discostu]

Because we don't have the facilities to quarentine all those people until the tests are completed. Testing for SARS isn't some 5 minute thing. Plus it's spread to enough places other than China it would be pointless anyway.

[_Jim]

And my question referred to the world.

"Supplying un-solicted information not germain to the questiom posed."

That carries a hundred-dollar fine I believe ...

[discostu]

It's a physical impossibility vs wishful thinking thing. It's physically impossible to test every single person coming from China, so you might as well stop wishing.

[discostu]

The excuse was that nobody had figured out germ theory yet. What a truly rediculous parallel to attempt to draw.

[JustAnAmerican]

"It's physically impossible to test every single person coming from China, so you might as well stop wishing.

It is however not physically impossible to ban flights from the effected areas until this thing is under control. And if someone just has to go to or from these areas,at the very least they should be quarantined. Or are you suggesting that putting the lives of 280 million Americans at risk is an ok thing to do?

[bart99]

"137 Americans die every day in the US from pneumonia. How many from SARS?"

---

I'm sure someone culd post a ton of facts regarding causes of death in the US.... like around 45,000 anually cause of car accidents........ and god knows how many from Cancer, heart attacks, etc.

BUT..... this is eerily like when AIDS started...... a few cases,,,,,, fewer deaths..... then more.... and more..... and now...... 50 - 60 million worldwide with HIV, and Bush just announced that we're gonna help the 30 million in Africa with their HIV problem? Hmmmm...... wonder is we are going to help China when it comes to that. Fat chance.

[JustPiper]

Apparently this one is in Florida, but there is one in California, south of LA, and that is what I first thought of, since I live in LA

That was my first also, FLA my second, tis why I asked.

[11B3]

"It's a physical impossibility vs wishful thinking thing. It's physically impossible to test every single person coming from China, so you might as well stop wishing."

Well, it's not impossible to STOP ALL PERSONS COMING FROM CHINA. To hell with testing them - I'd prefer to see no travel to the US from China. Period. Same goes for packaged goods.

[JustAnAmerican]

"The excuse was that nobody had figured out germ theory yet. What a truly rediculous parallel to attempt to draw.

Are you telling me that the ins and outs of SARS has been figured out yet? Or maybe that you yourself have knowledge the rest of us do not? Congratulations, you now possess knowledge no one else seems to have at the moment.

[discostu]

No it wouldn't be physically impossible to ban flights from effected areas, it would just be incredibly STUPID. The list of effected areas is HUGE and INCLUDES AMERICA. I'm suggesting that panic stricken doom criers demanding the government do the impossible are idiots.

[bondserv]

I live in Orange County, California and the source website for this report is not in Orange County, Ca.

Channel 2 news somewhere else. Channel 2 in OC, Ca. is CBS.

[discostu]

Yes it is impossible to stop all persons coming from China, and it would also be pointless since SARS is already in America.

[rwfromkansas]

Excuse me for not trying to see Americans die.

I am not one of those close the borders guys, but this demands we ban all flights from oriental regions.