UN Warns of Worldwide Threat from Killer Pneumonia

A question for the experts out there: can a gas mask stop a virus? (Yes; I am panicking. Don't mind the tin-foil hat).

Facts you should know

WHAT is atypical pneumonia?

It's a lung infection that is caused by certain organisms like mycoplasma, legionella (Legionnaires' disease) and chlamydia. However, the agent that has caused the recent outbreak of atypical pneumonia in Hongkong has not yet been identified, though the suspicion is that it is a type of virus.

How do I know if I have it?

You may have contracted this new type of atypical pneumonia if you have travelled to Hongkong, Hanoi or Guangdong province in the last two weeks and have come down suddenly with high fever, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties.

Or if you have come into close contact with those who are infected and have developed similar symptoms. You should seek immediate medical attention.

Who is most susceptible to atypical pneumonia?

People with a history of asthma, heavy smoking, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis as well as those whose immune systems are weakened for any reason, like chemotherapy, Aids, steroids or other drugs and chronic illnesses. The very old and the very young are also more vulnerable.

Is this type of pneumonia infectious?

Yes, it can spread to those in close contact with an infected person. So far, most of the newly infected have been family members, friends and health-care workers who came into close contact with patients.

Is atypical pneumonia dangerous?

Pneumonia is a serious infection that can potentially lead to death in some cases. So far, the Singapore cases are stable and no one has died.

What can I do to prevent myself from catching this?

Avoid travel to the affected places.

If you must travel there, avoid crowded places and areas where those infected are being treated.

If you touch surfaces in crowded areas, such as handles, door knobs and railings, always wash hands first before touching your face.

Ensure good ventilation if you are in contact with someone who is infected.

Rest well and drinks lots of water while you are travelling. Taking extra vitamins and other herbal preparations may have some limited effect.

Wearing a surgical mask will not help much unless you are in direct contact with people affected by the disease.

The answers above were supplied by the Ministry of Health and private physicians and specialists.

North Korea is next door to China. Haven't they threatened something about unleashing a "fire that consumes the earth?" Maybe they have a vaccine...

Hope the health authorities get this under control quick. If they don't, this story displaces Iraq by next weekend.

And, purchase some surgical masks?

Did a quick scan of the thread and did not see this site listed. It a neat little site for info.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus/f?p=2400:1000

LOL. I was just about to ping you and aruanan and ask the same thing.

I remember talking to my friend who works on a form of rabbit plague, you know, in positive air pressure moon suit. He told me that he came down with rapid-onset respiratory symptoms and wondered at first if he had contracted the disease. Turned out to be just a bad case of flu.

a one week incubation period suggests viral response.

Can you make a differential of virus vs. mycoplasma based on this incubation period?

Doubtful - as contagious as this appears to be, the mask won't help a bit. They don't help much in the first place.

It = It's

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The first outbreak was reported in February in China's southern Guangdong province, where 305 people were infected and five people died.

I'm sorry but it's going to take a lot more than this for me to to start getting worked up. This is China we're talking about and the thing only has a %1.6 fatality rate. And I'd bet those people were in susceptible groups anyway.

It's serious and all, but I'm not buying the hype.

Consider that North Korea has next to no people movement in and out of the country. It is extremely isolated. If NK were to launch an attack against the world, say in Singapore, NK would be one of the last countries to be affected by the pathogen and the epidemic might have burned out by then.

You know it is the end times when even non religious/ folks not usually into prophetic happenings, see it.

What about shipping? Cargo, cruise.

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We are 50+ years overdue for an outbreak of this type.

And it's starting where it should if it were natural.

I strongly doubt BT, pending further info.

>>Can you make a differential of virus vs. mycoplasma based on this incubation period?<<

No.

I wonder if it's starting.

That was my exact thought when I first heard about this on FOX News.

Do you hear strains of Blue Oyster Cult...?

An excellent thread detailing this outbreak and its possible ramifications:

[Hlth] **Heads Up** WHO issues global alert on new form of pneumonia

What does it usually indicate when red and white cell counts are down?

A layman would think the white cell counts should increase in response to most acute infections.

I don't have a reference other than a second-hand statement that these reduced counts are being seen in the victims.