Posted on 05/03/2003 6:55:53 PM PDT by MadIvan
One of Hong Kong's leading medical investigators into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has warned that an even wider global epidemic could occur next winter, even if the current outbreak proves to have peaked.
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, a microbiologist and one of two leaders of the Sars investigation team at Hong Kong university, said that other forms of the Coronavirus, of which Sars is the most deadly variant, go dormant in summer and become active again in winter.
There was no reason to believe that the Sars virus would behave any differently. "This means that the coming winter may be even worse," he said. "There may be a bigger epidemic."
Dr Yuen, who treated Hong Kong's first Sars victim, pointed out that many people were carrying the virus even though they showed no symptoms. While they appeared to be fit, they were unwittingly transmitting the virus to others.
Yesterday, Hong Kong's director of health, Margaret Chan, sought to play down Dr Yuen's fears, which she described as "speculative". The rate of infection in Hong Kong at the moment is in decline. Yesterday, just 10 new cases of Sars were reported and nine people died.
The infection rate on the Chinese mainland, however, particularly in the capital, Beijing, is still high. More than 176 new cases were reported on Friday, and a further 181 yesterday.
Overall, more than 6,000 people have been infected worldwide and over 400 people have died.
In a trend that is alarming doctors in Hong Kong, residents who are now into their second month of living with the deadly virus are adopting a more relaxed attitude.
Fewer people are wearing face masks, business is picking up in cinemas, at restaurants and luxury hotels, and classes resumed at most secondary schools and universities last week.
More worryingly, a massive clean-up campaign has ended and some streets are again filled with mounds of rubbish and other refuse. Officials are urging residents not to relax their vigilance.
I've maintained that all along. We have posted information from every source from all over the world.
SevenOfNine is 5'8", too. So the reason for my question.
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