BREAKING BIG: POSSIBLE PATHOGEN DETECTED IN SARS CASE

PROMED ^ | 03-18-03

[Mother Abigail]

Paramyxovirus-like particles identified by electron microscopy

Numerous tests have been performed on the 3 patients admitted on Saturday 15 March to the Isolation Unit at Frankfurt am Main with suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Tests from respiratory specimens for influenza A and B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, enteroviruses, _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ and _Chlamydia_ spp. by antigen enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were all negative; antibody tests for dengue, influenza A and B, measles, hantaviruses, _Mycoplasma pneumoniae_ and _Chlamydia_ spp. were likewise negative or unremarkable so far; further test results are pending.

Particles morphologically resembling paramyxoviruses were seen in respiratory specimens (throat swab and sputum) obtained from the index patient, a doctor from Singapore, by the teams in Marburg and in Frankfurt am Main.

It remains to be seen whether this finding can be confirmed -- tests including low-stringency paramyxovirus PCR and tissue culture are currently under way in Hamburg, in Marburg and in Frankfurt am Main. It needs to be emphasised that at this time these preliminary results only indicate a suspicion. Furthermore, even if the presence of a paramyxovirus was confirmed, it is not clear at this stage whether this might represent the causal agent of SARS or rather a coincidental finding.

[null and void]

LOL!

[Terriergal]

Well coccidiomycosis is one of many. aspergillosis or candida can cause it too. Aspergillosis in particular can be caught by smoking pot. (yeah, that's true...) -- now typically fungal lung infections don't occur except on immunocompromised people (cancer treatment, aids patients, transplant patients) however, if bacteria can build resistance to antibiotics, why can't yeast and other fungal agents develop more aggressive invasive characteristics?

I am not immunocompromised, but at certain times of the year I spend a lot of time fighting a burning slightly rattling sensation in my bronchial tubes and a persistent cough, with little fever. This will go on for a month and antibiotics don't do anything. And it seems to happen more often in the last five, six years or so.

[Terriergal]

It is going to be viral (all other lab work is negative

I suppose... since it is being transmitted from person to person in diverse areas that kind of rules out fungal I suppose.

[Oberon]

Ummm, is that the citified name fer 'shine?

Nah. Just any 80-proof liquor. You'd have to water 'shine down to get it to 40 percent.

[bonesmccoy]

Your symptoms sound more like reactive airway disease or mild persistent asthma. You need an evaluation by your doctor! If you are having allergic problems, you can take an anti-histamine or Singulair during that season next year / this year and avoid the problem. In addition, an allergist can identify the exact cause of your allergies. Then, you can either take shots or rid the offending agent from your environment.

[bonesmccoy]

thanks for the distraction from cable TV news... and a "ping" pong back. LOL

[bonesmccoy]

nah... not in our country (at least not for the most part).

[bonesmccoy]

It's ironic that people are considering paramyxoviridae... I had posted this a few days ago:
_________________________________________
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/865461/posts?page=34#34

34 posted on 03/15/2003 12:35 PM PST by bonesmccoy (Defeat the terrorists... Vaccinate!)

These reports of infectious disease necessitating a "global" health emergency are more political than the President's attempt to immunize health care workers against small pox.

The fact of the matter is that this disease has NOT spread to the US yet. CDC is sending investigators to other locations in order to gather data.

My suggestion is that these foreign medical centers need to run tests for Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

RSV peaks every year in the winter. We have seen an unusually wide peak in cases this year (meaning more cases for a slightly longer period of time than last year).

The disease pops up around November and lasts until March.

It creates a dry, hacking cough a few days after exposure. The virus is VERY contagious and can spread by contact or respiratory droplets.

Until a real medical lab can run real samples from the real patients, these reports are sensationalistic nonsense.

Do not fret about these types of viruses or pathogens.

US investigators, when appropriately focused, can figure out the germ in a remarkably short order.

[Eastbound]

" . . . why can't yeast and other fungal agents develop more aggressive invasive characteristics?"

Perhaps they do. Although it may appear they do if undetected until it's too late treat. I don't know how fungal pneumonia (valley fever)is recognized these days, but at one time it required a lung biopsy...something few doctors would be willing to prescribe and fewer patients would be willing to undergo for a casual trip to the doctor for a flu shot or prescription.

[Salvation]

Frist? Isn't he an M. D.?

[ladyinred]

okay, jumped species. how does that happen? is is happenstance, or do you think it has something to do with bioterror?

Exactly! That is my question too. I don't understand the medical gobblygook either! This just sounds so strange.

[twntaipan]

Is it possible that the use of nebulizers to treat the pneumonia patients might be contributing to the spread in hospitals?

And, interestingly, there are always lots of Japanese and South Korean tourists in Hong Kong (or would have been when this thing was getting wound up). Why no cases of Japanese or South Koreans returning home with the illness?

[TaxRelief]

Frist is an MD.

[Mother Abigail]

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A CHRONOLOGICAL COMPILATION OF THE "SARS" OUTBREAK AS REPORTED ON FREE REPUBLIC

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1. Precognition

2. Hong Kong Health Secretary calls for calm as SARS cases double, (83 up from 42 on Sunday)

3. LATEST SARS UPDATE - DETAILED MEDICAL INFORMATION

4. BREAKING BIG: POSSIBLE PATHOGEN DETECTED IN SARS CASE

5. Killer Virus (SARS) Identified

6. Seven victims of mystery pneumonia stayed on same floor of Hong Kong hotel

7. Guangdong doctor linked to SARS outbreak