Microbiologist: SARS now attacking intestines

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH.com.au) ^ | April 23, 2003 | DPA

[EternalHope]

Microbiologist: SARS now attacking intestines

April 23 2003

The deadly SARS virus is now attacking the intestines as well as the respiratory system, a leading Hong Kong microbiologist said yesterday.

Speaking on Hong Kong radio station RTHK, Professor Malik Peiris of Hong Kong University said the change might indicate the virus had mutated, as many experts feared.

Professor Peiris is one of the microbiologists at the forefront of the Hong Kong research into the SARS virus, which killed another five people in the territory yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths to 99.

His comments come amid growing concern that the virus is becoming more virulent, with many doctors noting changes in the way the disease behaves and whom it kills.

A number of deaths over the past week have occurred in younger, previously healthy people - one being a 34-year-old pregnant women.

An increasing number of those infected with SARS are now suffering from diarrhoea. As many of two thirds of the residents who contracted SARS in the outbreak at the Amoy Gardens high-rise had diarrhoea, according to health officials.

Tom Buckley, the head of the intensive care unit at Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital, said organ failure was also now becoming more common.

"Initially patients were presenting with just respiratory failure," Dr Buckley said. "Now we're seeing renal failure and other organ failure."

Hong Kong recorded 32 new infections yesterday - 10 more than Monday - taking the total to 1434. The latest deaths were all of people over the age 65, with four having an history of chronic illness.

Announcing the latest figures, health secretary E K Yeoh said he believed SARS would not go away and the Government had to concentrate on controlling it.

"We do not anticipate that it will be eradicated completely because this virus is highly infectious," he said. "So our primary task is to reduce the size of the viral load in the community and prevent outbreaks."

DPA

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/22/1050777263907.html

[EternalHope]

SARS is now attacking intestines as well as lungs, and other organ failure is becoming more common.

Some experts are expressing concern that SARS may have mutated into a more virulent form.

[KantianBurke]

we're screwed

[anobjectivist]

All your intestines are belong to us

[kinghorse]

Man made plague. How nice. Especially nice for the luddite Islamics who want the whole world flash frozen circa the 6th century.

We cannot buy a break. USA posted healthy economic growth in the 1st qtr. China is going to take us down along with everyone else. So much of our current share value is predicated on cheap chinese labor and willing chinese consumers. Not good.

[goodnesswins]

"The latest deaths were all of people over the age 65, with four having an history of chronic illness."

Compromised immune systems.....stay healthy everyone.

[sneakers]

Saw your profile Kantian - I'm sure you will bear the symbol of the Marines with pride and honor. God bless you!

[KantianBurke]

Thank you very much Sneakers! I hope to as skinny as I am :>

[muggs]

Well this is getting more worrisome everyday.

[cgk]

"Man made plague"...

I keep thinking that, also. I'm sure we'll never know for sure.

[aristeides]

SARS Virus can survive 24 hours+ in the environment

Promed reports that:

a CDC expert surprised the others by revealing that the virus can remain potent on objects much longer than previously thought. "....in their studies, they found that you could still culture viable virus from surfaces after as much as 24 hours, which is longer than we normally expect viruses to be able to survive in the environment."

Susan Compton, also on Promed, comments:

I am unaware of any literature on the environmental stability of human coronaviruses, but rat coronavirus, which causes a pneumonia in rats, when dried on plastic and then rehydrated 48 hours later is still viable. The decrease in viral titer is 1000-fold after 24 hours and 10 000-fold after 48 hours (Laboratory Animal Science 43: 403-4).

This might go part way toward explaining the Metropole Hotel and Amoy Garden's outbreaks.

http://www.sarswatch.org/.

[hgro]

"Compromised immune systems.....stay healthy everyone"

It would be a good idea to not buy Chinese goods since this virus seems to travel very well. Let them solve the problem and then and only then should anyone buy anything Chinese. In the meantime, maybe the U.S.A. can reclaim some of the jobs China has siphoned off of our economy.

[mabelkitty]

So this is basically "survival of the fittest"? Could this be a natural selection to counter our society falsely propping up ill people via all of our life saving medicines and machines?

Interesting thought.

Or, could it potentially weed out the Boomer population who possess more casual income for world travel, are better insured, but experimented with more drugs and casual sex than any generation before it?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Ho-hum. Another day, another media-frenzy induced crisiz.

[mabelkitty]

When the ChiCom government drops dead, we'll know.

When Tienemen Square uprises without reprisals, we'll know.

[goodnesswins]

LOL....I kinda see everything as "survival of the fittest"....but, this does not appear to be something to laugh about. A workmate of my husband's is returning soon from her "vacation" in China......we're still trying to determine if they will make her stay home for a couple of weeks first.

[js1138]

Paging Michael Creighton: Your package from Andromeda has arrived and requires attention.

[Frank_Discussion]

Read My Lips: HEAT STERILIZATION

[OK]

I take elderberry herbal capsules and a zinc tablet at the first hint of cold or flu. Haven't had either in two years.

[ganesha]

Interesting. Patricia A Doyle at Rense.com is claiming the opposite, that because it is manmade it will most likely "unravel" and become no worse than a common cold.

[RussianConservative]

200 dead people is hardly a plague makes.