SARS Case Suspected in N.Korea

Korea Times ^ | 4-27-03 | Shim Jae-yun

[Nov3]

SARS Case Suspected in N.Korea

By Shim Jae-yun Staff Reporter Amid growing panic due to rapidly spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), reclusive North Korea is now engrossed in efforts to prevent the outbreak of the virus.

The North was put on alert as a patient suspected to have been infected with the epidemic was reported in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.

North Korea¡¯s Central TV Station reported April 24 that a suspected SARS patient was detected in the Moranbong district of Pyongyang. ``Hospitals and medical staffs began closely monitoring a possible outbreak while alienating patients with similar symptoms from other residents.¡¯¡¯

Quarantine authorities have been mobilized to strengthen preventive and anti-septic measures while the North¡¯s newspapers and broadcasters have been reporting the damages in foreign nations more specifically than they did during the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Pyongyang, which has already been conducting quarantine checks on all visitors coming via ground, ports and airports, began to prevent tourists from border areas from entering the nation while allowing only cargo carriers to arrive in Pyongyang railway station.

The North already asked South Korea to suspend the Mt. Kumgang project April 25, citing the increasing wariness over SARS.

North Korea experts interpreted the North¡¯s seemingly sensitive response to the possible spreading of SARS as a desperate attempt to curb possible economic losses and social instability in case the virus begins to spread across the nation.

The TV station already reported April 22 that ``some Asian nations which saw the outbreak of the sickness have been suffering from contracting financial transactions and their tourism industries have been facing a serous crisis.¡¯¡¯

It warned that the disease has emerged as the most challenging threat to the global community that may entail colossal social and economic damages.

04-27-2003 18:27

[Nov3]

Let's wait on invading, Maybe this thing will work itself out. I am sure a government like North Korea has a health care system that Hillary could respect.

On the other hand declaring martial law would not be noticed.

[John Jorsett]

Step 1: Quarantine. Step 2: SARS executions.

Solving health crises is so much easier for totalitarian governments.

[aristeides]

Malnutrition isn't going to help.

[Brimack34]

I don not care about the leaders. But I feel bad for the peoples.

[Domestic Church]

"The North was put on alert as a patient suspected to have been infected with the epidemic was reported in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. "

Anyone want to guess how many cases they really have?

[aristeides]

I was wondering how they could avoid a spread from Peking. Hasn't there also been SARS reported in Harbin in Manchuria?

[zook]

My first thought was "how did it get there?"

[Ma Li]

Their is a huge contingency of North Korean refugees hiding out in Northeast China. People will risk being shot to get across the river from North Korea to China.

Absolutely no doubt some of them are sneaking back for some reason or other--see famliy or whatever. There isn't much other contact between the two nations--official contaact I mean. So, that tells us that if North Korea is lying about the numbers they have, then probably China is lying about the state of it's northeastern provinces.

[_Jim]

Step 2: SARS executions.

John Jorsett's School of Medicine?

[Calpernia]

That was funny!

[Calpernia]

My guess is from this meeting in Beijing:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-04-25-us-korea-talks_x.htm

There was a thread yesterday about SARs being found in Beijing's government offices.

[CathyRyan]

Glad to hear from you. I have been worried. Are you still going to leave?

[blam]

I understand that the Chinese provinces bordering North Korea are in about the same economical condition as North Korea. They certainally could not stand a rush of refugees out of Korea.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1,#3

Malnutrition and the collapsed health care system. SARS could be really dangerous to N. Korean regime in this condition because it is one of a few things which can destabilize their society, despite their suffocating oppression of their population.

[Prince Charles]

Amid growing panic due to rapidly spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), reclusive North Korea is now engrossed in efforts to prevent the outbreak of the virus.

The preferred course of therapy for SARS in North Korea starts with a bullet to the back of the head.

[_Jim]

The preferred course of therapy for SARS in North Korea starts with a bullet to the back of the head.

Must be another graduate of John Jorsett's School of Medicine.

You people are vicious ...

[Prince Charles]

Sarcasm is the hardest form of humor to express in written form. Too bad you don't get it.

[_Jim]

Sarcasm is the hardest form of humor ...

... WHEN it's actually done. A nice lead-in helps before 'cutting to the quick' ...

[Betty Jo]

Dont forget the flamethrowers.

[Prince Charles]

Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.