China admits Sars may spread out of control

The Independent -UK ^ | 22 April 2003 | Cahal Milmo

[John Valentine]

Thanks for properly linking the article....

[John Valentine]

I wonder if the CDC has backed off those "confirmed" cases, becaause as of today, the CDC is reporting 190 suspected and 38 probable SARS cases in the US. None are confirmed, at least as reported...

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/sars.htm

[EternalHope]

I wonder if the CDC has backed off those "confirmed" cases, becaause as of today, the CDC is reporting 190 suspected and 38 probable SARS cases in the US. None are confirmed, at least as reported...

As far as I know, "confirmed" cases are not being reported by the WHO (or any other group) for any nation.

They are reporting "probable" instead, partly because we still do not have a quick and reliable test that will pick up SARS early in the disease progression. Some of the tests currently used take two WEEKS to get an answer.

Many press reports have translated "probable" into "confirmed", but that is not the actual term used at the source. By going to the source (the CDC in the U.S.), you are getting the correct terminology.

[WoofDog123]

"One reason our stats look good is that we really have not been hit with many actual cases."

it is notable that multiple persons from flights with passengers originating in china/hk with sars are not being reported ill. This disease is apparently a CLOSE proximity/fluid transmission issue.

[EternalHope]

It is notable that multiple persons from flights with passengers originating in china/hk with sars are not being reported ill. This disease is apparently a CLOSE proximity/fluid transmission issue.

Passenger exposure on flights does not seem to be a common thing, although there are documented cases where it has happened.

[InShanghai]

Here's a great read concerning airlines air: Do Airlines Spread SARS?

[CathyRyan]

I call the poster that post ...We're all going to die the "The Stand People"

[aristeides]

There's no conclusive evidence the virus has airborne transmission. (If it's waterborne, it can still be spread over a limited distance through sputum and saliva droplets.) If there's any airborne transmission at all, it seems to be very rare.

[Dog Gone]

Based upon phone conversations with my wifes family in China, things are far worse than are being reported.

I'll second that. This is obviously hearsay to me, but one of my co-workers spoke to a colleague in Beijing yesterday, and he related that "people were dropping like flies" from SARS there.

Maybe he was overreacting, but I don't think we're getting an accurate picture of what is really happening there today from the Chinese authorities.

[Walkingfeather]

Booohooo haha ... you need to write comedy or apply as the iraqi info minister. Your statement implies that it is not transmitted easily... ( such as airborne). I don't know if your background is blinding you but ask the 7 healthcare workers in toronto how they got SARS while wearing , Head cover, n -95 masks, eye protection, gowns, and shoe covering. Etc. Tell me ... how is that possible? did the patient get up during intibation and draw his own blood and inject those workers?