SARS DEATH RATE FOR OLDER PEOPLE MORE THAN 50%: WHO

Channel News Asia ^ | 08 May 2003

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #8

But all Chinese leaders are old. Most of them over 60's. For SARS to have the desired effect , all these folks should wear air tight space suits everyday. Otherwise, China may secure world hegemony through SARS but they won't be able to hang around to enjoy the fruits of their triumph.

If Hu Jing-Tao and Jiang Zemin are showing up wearing their own space suits, that might be one of the evidences to confirm your hypothesis.:)

Alternatively, you can surmise that this is the plan hatched by younger Chinese political elites to get rid of older leadership figures and achieve Chinese domination of the world in one swoop.:)

[First Amendment]

MOST truckrs smoke too much - THIS is liable to have a nullifying effct on SARS viral contagion that make their way into a trucker's lungs (Nicotine is an effective poison) ...

Anyone read anything reasonable about the effects of smoking and SARS? Usually people who smoke get respitory ailments more severely than nonsmokers. But since it looks as though SARS kills those that it kills by way of immune system overreaction, how does smoking fit in? Any ideas? The above idea doesn't sound reasonable. Since nicotine is a poison, and smokers usually get worse bronchitis and other lung diseases, why would it be a SARS preventive?

[lotus]

"Vietnam with its low death rate "

A friend contacted his relatives in Vietnam this week, and the relative said the govt is lying. He said its bad there, and extremely bad in the north, but it is squashed to keep the tourist traffic up. He did say he'd make further contacts over the weekend to see if other relatives agree....

[Beck_isright]

"'cause I think anybody with half a functioning brain *already* KNOWS via common-sense what things *to do* and also what things/activities NOT to do AND where to stay away from for awhile!"

LOL!!! You're making this assumption with an American population which uses Dr. Phil and Oprah for medical advice, thinks "Jackass" is a "cool" show, and believes at least 50% of what Peter Jennings says would "KNOW via common-sense what things 'to do' and also what things/activities NOT to do" etc....
You have more faith than I do.

[CathyRyan]

Ping to post #2

[EternalHope]

..how does smoking fit in?

It doesn't.

Rumors are rampant in China and Hong Kong about how smoking can prevent/cure SARS. The rumors have become so widespread that the top doctors in each area have gone out of their way to debunk the rumor. The Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore also went out of his way to debunk the rumor.

The idea that putting something poisonous in your lungs will kill the bad things in there has been around a long time. Remember, back in the days of Sir Walter Raleigh (you know, sailing ships, Queen Elisabeth, etc.), smoking was thought to prevent/cure lung disease.

[aristeides]

Dr Heymann and other health officials told the House hearing there was no evidence people transmit the virus before they develop the cough, fever and pneumonia that characterize SARS.

Curious way to express oneself. I wonder why they didn't say that the evidence suggests that there is no such transmission before the symptoms develop.

[Betty Jo]

We will all croak!

[riri]

'cause I think anybody with half a functioning brain *already* KNOWS via common-sense what things *to do* and also what things/activities NOT to do AND where to stay away from for awhile!

I know you did not post that with a straight face after reading about the taxi driver. People will and do try to continue doing what they feel they have to do. This guy took medication to mask his fever so he could continue working while in a small country in the middle of a SARS outbreak. You think truckers in Canada are above that? Come on.

[Nov3]

Are you gonna start buying MRE's, a supply of surgical masks and your own RN (Registered Nurse) for the duration?

I don't know . . . . it depends on the RN