A woman wearing a mask to protect herself from severe acute respiratory syndrome performs Tai Chi in a demonstration against the illness in Hong Kong, where five new SARS cases were reported yesterday.
Posted on 05/05/2003 7:10:33 AM PDT by InShanghai
Less than a month after scientists cracked the genetic code of the SARS coronavirus, the virus is mutating, causing new forms to emerge in Southeast Asia.
Doctors at the Chinese University of Hong Kong report at least two types of SARS in the territory's hospitals.
''The virus is mutating fast,'' said Dennis Lo, one of a team of microbiologists who have just finished a study on the SARS virus.
''Such a quick mutation means that even if there is a cure it may become ineffective. Even a diagnostic test may not be able to detect it if it has undergone change.''
Dr. Lo doesn't know if the new strains will be deadlier or more infectious than the old.
However, the mutations mean SARS patients who recover might not be immune to re-infection.
Scientists have also discovered the SARS coronavirus can live on surfaces and in human waste for considerably longer than previously thought.
German scientists say the microbe can survive on plastic surfaces -- such as an elevator button -- for up to 24 hours. And tests suggest it can live in human feces for as long as four days. A key theory is that SARS was spread to hundreds of people in the Amoy Gardens apartment complex in Hong Kong by infected sewage that was aerosolized by a leaky pipe.
''This is important, because traces of stool could occur on surfaces in hospitals, so this is very important to know in sterilizing those environments,'' said Klaus Stohr, the World Health Organization's top SARS scientist.
SARS has now killed at least 449 people around the world.
China remains the worst-hit country with 181 dead and more than 3,800 people infected.
Five new SARS deaths were reported in Hong Kong yesterday, bringing its toll to 184 deaths and 1,629 infections. However, Hong Kong officials said only eight new cases have been reported, the smallest figure since daily reporting began in March.
Health Canada has had reports of 326 probable or suspect cases of SARS in Canada with 23 deaths. No new Canadian cases were reported over the weekend.
However, Canadian scientists are poring over the latest report about SARS virus mutations.
Dr. Lo and his team in Hong Kong isolated the virus in 11 victims and found four different strains. The strains came from related groups of victims, which means the microbe has changed in the two months since it struck the city.
The syndrome's symptoms also seem to be changing. Recent SARS patients in Hong Kong have suffered more diarrhea than patients infected earlier in the outbreak.
''This is not completely surprising,'' said Andrew Simor, chief microbiologist at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
''We suspect that the SARS-related coronavirus emerged as a new strain from previously known coronaviruses. So we know it has that ability to mutate and change its genetic structure and thereby create a new strain.''
Dr. Simor says no new viral strains have been found in Canada so far. He said the mutations could complicate the search for a vaccine against SARS.
''The more variability there is in the virus, the more difficult it is to actually design an effective vaccine,'' he said.
If the virus changes substantially, it could also make detection a problem, since current SARS tests depend on identifying parts of the virus. So a single test for all SARS patients would not be effective.
Scientists in Japan say warm weather may signal a break. Their studies show the SARS coronavirus begins to break down in temperatures in the mid-30s, but stayed active at temperatures of about seven degrees and lower. This suggests the virus could survive a winter in Canada.
Also yesterday, it was revealed a dozen former SARS patients here who were initially thought to have suffered relapses actually had other medical problems, health officials said.
Dr. Liu Shao-haei said at a news conference that while some of the patients had developed fevers or other symptoms of illness after their initial discharge from a hospital, not one turned out to be sick again with SARS. In one case, a woman had developed leg swelling from deep-vein thrombosis apparently caused by her prolonged bed rest during her treatment for SARS, Dr. Liu said.
"They are all confirmed as not related to any relapse of SARS conditions," he said, adding that all but four had already been released again from hospitals.
Dick Thompson, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, welcomed the re-evaluation of the cases here that were initially diagnosed as relapses, and the decline in new cases in Beijing. "It sounds like there's lots of good news," he said.
Beijing authorities yesterday ordered that all city schools remain closed for an additional two weeks beyond the original reopening date of May 8.
"The city's education department ordered the closure to prevent the spread of SARS among the 1.37 million students," the official New China News Agency reported.
A woman wearing a mask to protect herself from severe acute respiratory syndrome performs Tai Chi in a demonstration against the illness in Hong Kong, where five new SARS cases were reported yesterday.
The cold virus hasn't done it yet. And there's a LOT more cold viruses that have had a chance to encounter this mutation than SARS viruses.
This is why it's so important to contain the virus early. Many sick people means many more virus copies that can mutate. The more mutations there are, the more likely one is to be "beneficial" from the perspective of the transmissibility of the virus.
IN LIGHT OF the fact that the bulk of the discussion is led off with wire stories culled from the media -
- how can this be?
Which is 'the cart' and which is 'the horse'?
'Wire story' or 'the discussion on FR'?
There is no parallel to FR amongst political websites, but let's not go overboard on the self-congratulations ...
At the very least FR is a storehouse of knowledge:). I had always assumed(Yes I know the old addage:)), that one could catch a cold by touching something that was contaminated even after a 24 hour period had transpired. I always knew about the Flu's limitations but not the common cold's.
What do you base "not many viruses can" on?
I have an incurrable virus that can survive outside the host for 3 weeks. Heat hasn't killed it, nor can cold. It has mutated and evaded cure for a long time now. I personally think we need to take any viral infection like SARS extremely serious. Having witnessed the destruction of AIDS/HIV, and now my own illness with a virus that is elusive and mutates, I don't think we can take ANY virus that is so deadly so lightly. Those of us with my particular genotype have realized this virus (and others) can be particularly nasty and life altering.
I don't understand where the information coming out about 30+ destroying the virus is coming from, but I can pretty much assure you I wouldn't bet my life on that theory lasting.
People SHOULDN'T "panic".. but SHOULD practice precautionary measures. SARS is thought to spread MOSTLY from sneezing and coughing (mucous transfer). But it is also being found in fecal material. So as with other viruses.. (the common cold for example) we need to WASH hands before putting anything in our mouth OR NOSE. It would be wise and is even suggested by the CDC to carry a tube of hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket for if/when you cannot "wash" your hands. Use it even before blowing your nose with a tissue. (Again, TRANSFER of the virus needs to be considered. It MUST find entry into your mouth or nose).
We also advocate wearing a face mask if you're going to be flying on public transportation. (Recycled air). If SARS is already happening where you live, WEAR A MASK until things calm down where you live.
Lastly, when using a public restroom, wash your hands.. leave the water RUNNING.. use your forearm to get the paper to roll out of the dispenser.. dry your hands, turn off the water with the towel (because your hands and everyone elses were DIRTY when they were turned on) then use the same towel to OPEN the door to leave. Many people do NOT wash their hands after using the bathroom. So the door is dirty!! Most public restrooms are now placing trash cans near the exit, if they don't, throw the towel out of the way into a corner or something. (If they only have blowdryers, use the bottom of your shirt, or your sleeve to turn off the water AFTER washing, then bump the dryer button with your arm, use the bottom of your shirt or sleeve to open the door).
Think like a virus. YOU WILL TOUCH the places where viruses are, so take care of it. HYGIENE is so important!!
We've lived with a virus for a LONG time now. We don't panic. But we DO follow the guidelines for living with it. The same "common sense" should be used when dealing with the possibility of SARS. Since I have a compromised immune system, we've been using these precautionary guidelines for a long time. Including using a mask if on public transportation if there is a flu going around. It has become a common practice for us. Our grandchildren use the handwashing techniques I described above. It is just second nature for them now. Lets hope others start doing the same. :o)
FRegards, Vets
This can be because many here on FR act as more than receptor cells dangling off the bottom end of recycled press releases. In the instance (post #13 and comments upon it) that brought the comments that you are, not surprisingly, disparaging, Aristeides has posted an article that only now brings forth in the press the questionable accounting of recent cases in Hong Kong. But Hong Kong's subtle change of language in its daily press releases, beginning on the 15th of April, and its later releases of figures on hospitalized "suspect", beginning on the 25th of April have been noted and discussed here several times already.
And charted on one of your charts.
For Freepers who have not been there, click on "Hospitalizations with suspects" here: Per loin's Hong Kong info. It shows just why the news media is finally asking these questions.
- how can this be?
Because FR has a LOT of educated and informed people, capable of adding substantially to a story based on their own expertise.
Besides, how much do you really think the typical reporter knows about medicine, statistics, the typical course of a pandemic, and the details of SARS in particular. Many people on FR are more educated and informed about each of these topics than the typical reporter writing about SARS.
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