CHINA CONFIRMS CASES AND DEATHS (SARS) - HONG KONG SITUATION DETERIORATING - 22 CASES IN US

Washington Post ^ | 03-22-03

[Mother Abigail]

Mysterious Illness Kills 2 In Beijing in Sign of Spread

Saturday, March 22, 2003; Page A03

BEIJING, March 21 -- Chinese doctors today reported two deaths in Beijing and 20 people stricken in Shanghai by a disease with symptoms similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The doctors' statements cast doubt on Chinese government pronouncements that the spread of the disease, also known as SARS, had been limited to Guangdong province, in southern China, where it is believed to have originated. State-controlled media have been banned from reporting about the disease since mid-February.

Full Article

[Mother Abigail]

I think your point is a fair one

[Mother Abigail]

Attention Health/News Editors:
Ontario's Public Health Commissioner issues update on SARS

TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health, informed Ontarians today that one of the individuals who had been classified as a probable case with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has died.

"My sympathies go out to the family of the patient who passed away during the night at The Scarborough Hospital - Grace Division," said Dr. D'Cunha. This is the third person in the province to have died of symptoms related to SARS.

The coroner's office is now investigating this death. In addition, there are now two new cases: one is classified as probable
and the other is considered suspect. These individuals are currently in isolation. Both individuals had close contact with existing cases of SARS.

[Domestic Church]

That doesn't rule out biowarfare...it's just more opportune to use what is naturally available.

[Domestic Church]

It remains to be seen but either natural or weaponized it still can be biowarfare.

[Mother Abigail]

Singapore

Sorry, no more admissions

For next 2 weeks: TTSH won't take in new patients, A&E also closed

By Li-Ann Wee

TAN Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) is not where you would go in the next fortnight, unless you suspect you may be coming down with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

The 1,500-bed hospital is not admitting new patients for the next two weeks, so that resources can be used more effectively to isolate and treat Sars cases, and reduce the risk of the infection spreading.

[Mother Abigail]

Country: Cumulative no. case(s) (including fatal)/ no. deaths/ local transmission

Canada: 9 / 2 / yes

China: + Germany: 2 / 0 / none*

Hong Kong SAR China: 222 / 7** / yes

Italy: 2 / 0 / none*

Republic of Ireland: 1 / 0 / none*
Singapore: 44 / 0 / yes

Slovenia: 1 / 0 / none*

Spain: 1 / 0 / none*

Switzerland: 7 / 0 / to be determined

Taiwan, China: 6 / 0 / yes

Thailand: 4 / 0 / none*

United Kingdom: 2 / 0 / none*

United States: 22 / 0 / to be determined

Viet Nam: 63 / 2 / yes

Total: 386 / 11

[Petronski]

Are we really supposed to expect China has had only seven fatalities?

[Mother Abigail]

Admission Statistics (as at 3 PM, 22 Mar 2003)

A. Staff of Hospitals/Clinics (numbers in brackets are those with symptoms of pneumonia)

Staff of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) admitted to: PWH 59 (59) PWH (private doctors) 2 (2)

Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) 3 (3) Princess

Margaret Hospital (PMH) 3 (3)

Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) 1 (1)

Staff of KWH admitted to:
KWH 4 (4)
One of the health workers was discharged

Staff of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) admitted to: PYNEH 7 (7)

Staff of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) admitted to: QEH 5 (2) One of the health workers was discharged

Staff of a Private Clinic in Mong Kok admitted to: PMH 4 (4) Tuen Mun Hospital 1 (1)

Staff of a private hospital on HK Island admitted to: PYNEH 3 (3)

Staff of a private hospital in Kowloon admitted to: PMH 4 (4) PYNEH 1 (1)

Total 97 (94)

2 of the health workers were discharged

B. Medical students (numbers in brackets are those with symptoms of pneumonia) Medical students PWH
17 (17) One of the medical students was discharged

C. Other Patients (numbers in brackets are those with symptoms of pneumonia)

Patients, patient's family members & visitors PWH, PMH, PYNEH, QEH, TKOH, Queen Mary Hospital & Tuen Mun Hospital 108 (106) 4 of the patients were discharged

Total admissions (A + B + C) 222 (217)

7 were discharged

On the other hand, 7 patients with atypical pneumonia died recently in the following public hospitals: Kwong Wah Hospital (2 patients); PMH (1); PYNEH (1); PWH (3).

[Mother Abigail]

If I read this correctly:

7 patients have been discharged

7 patients have died

Don't like those odds...

[blam]

Thanks for keeping us informed on this subject. I do appreciate it.

[Mother Abigail]

Though the SARS situation in Singapore is contained, the Ministry of Health is stepping up precautionary measures to cut off secondary transmission especially among hospital staff and reduce risk of any community spread. These include:

A) Centralising all suspected and probable SARS cases At present, the vast majority of suspect and probable cases of SARS are being isolated and treated in TTSH and CDC. As these cases require isolation facilities for up to 2-3 weeks, the initial provisions made by TTSH and CDC to handle these cases are becoming fully utilised.
At the same time, TTSH is continuing to carry its normal hospital load of clinical care and this is stretching staff and other resources.

[Mother Abigail]

State: suspected cases under investigation* California: 6

Hawaii: 3

Maine: 1

Massachusetts: 1

New Jersey: 1

New Mexico: 1

North Carolina: 2

New York: 2

Rhode Island: 1

Utah: 1

Virginia: 2

Wisconsin: 1

Total suspected cases under investigation 22

[Mother Abigail]

You are quite welcome

[Domestic Church]

"China has had only seven fatalities?"

They're still pointing the finger at chlamydia.

[Mother Abigail]

Nothing to see here move on..

[Domestic Church]

"Don't like those odds..."

I would interpret it as the 7 discharged went home to die.

[CathyRyan]

Why would you think that?

[Mother Abigail]

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