SARS Virus Found in Recovered HK Patients

Reuters ^ | 5/1/2003 | Tan Ee Lyn

[a_Turk]

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong doctors have discovered for the first time traces of the deadly SARS (news - web sites) virus in the stool and urine of patients thought to be free of the virus and discharged from hospital, officials said on Thursday.

The news came after doctors in Hong Kong found evidence of permanent lung scarring and possible cases of relapses in patients who had been infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

"Recovered patients have the virus in their stools and urine," David Hui, a doctor treating SARS patients, told Reuters.

Hong Kong's Director of Health told a news conference experts here were now trying to ascertain how long recovered patients in the territory may be passing the virus in their stools and urine.

"Most patients spend at least three weeks in hospital, they must be clear of any symptoms for five days before they can be released," said Margaret Chan, adding that those discharged must remain at home for another 14 days.

Tests were being done to see if the people found with the traces of the virus were infectious, doctors said.

Authorities said the disease killed another five people in the city and infected 11 others on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 162 and cumulative cases to 1,600.

Of these, 43 patients were discharged from hospital on Thursday, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 834. The government also said 102 recovering patients were in convalescence and were about to be discharged.

The disease has spread to more than 25 countries in the last two months, infected more than 6,000 people and killed nearly 400 of them since first emerging in southern China in November.

Symptoms include high fever, cough and pneumonia, and there is no standard treatment. Scientists say it is mainly passed by droplets through sneezing and coughing.

While daily numbers of new infections have fallen over the past week in Hong Kong, news on Wednesday that 12 people had to be readmitted to hospital brought fresh concerns. Six remain in hospital.

It was not clear if the 12 had suffered relapses.

Some doctors told Reuters these patients may not have fully recovered when they were first discharged, or that that their weakened immunity systems may have left them vulnerable to secondary infections.

Chan said experts were still trying to pinpoint the cause of the relapses but she stressed that hospitals in Hong Kong were extremely cautious when handling SARS patients.

The epidemic has brought businesses across Hong Kong to their knees. Tourists have disappeared as countries around the world warn their citizens against coming here and impose stringent checks on travelers from SARS affected areas.

[50sDad]

Some doctors told Reuters these patients may not have fully recovered when they were first discharged, or that that their weakened immunity systems may have left them vulnerable to secondary infections.

"And it is definitely, positivly not the result of some deadly bio-warfare experiment we were doing that has gone horribly wrong. Really. We have this completely under control." [thud]

[b4its2late]

"Recovered patients have the virus in their stools and urine"

Wonder who was the lucky @#$tard that had to do that testing???........

[xm177e2]

There have been nasty viral outbreaks in the past (like the Spanish Flu). Don't assume this was likely some sort of bioweapon, it's perfectly plausible that this virus came about naturally.

[monday]

"Don't assume this was likely some sort of bioweapon, it's perfectly plausible that this virus came about naturally."

Can't assume anything yet.

[aristeides]

With SARS, Initial Recovery May Presage Worst Phase.