Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ab_Normal · 03-17-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Health authorities around the world are struggling to contain a lethal form of pneumonia as air travellers spread it across the globe.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a rare emergency warning over the weekend, declaring the sickness "a worldwide health threat", and saying that cases had been reported on three continents, with more suspected in other parts of the world.

So far, there have been four deaths related to the pneumonia and another five in an outbreak of a similar infection in a province of China, although the two have not yet been definitively linked.

Around 200 people are also believed to have been infected world-wide in the last week alone.

I've probably been reading too many suspense novels - should I be concerned over this?

Jesse · 03-17-2003, 03:10 PM

I have no idea how dangerous this actually is, but here's a more optimistic article:

http://www.canada.com/ottawa/story.a...A-EB74BDDB473F

Quote:

All the suspected and confirmed cases are people who have either travelled recently to Southeast Asia, where the virus apparently originated, or who have been in close contact with people who got sick after travelling to that region.

Patients are being treated with heavy doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-viral drugs, which appear to be working.

"Today we had, thankfully, good news that everybody is improving. They're all in stable condition," said Dr. Bonnie Henry, an associate medical officer of health for Toronto. "They're basically improving and getting better."

That fact, plus growing evidence that the illness is transmitted only via close contact with an infected person, is leading public health officials to urge the public not to become unduly alarmed.

It's believed the illness is transmitted by droplets that are sneezed or coughed by an infected person. Gravity helps fight the spread of such diseases; airborne diseases such as chickenpox are significantly more infectious, experts say.

"I would say there's no reason to panic," said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, another associate medical officer of health for Toronto.

03-17-2003, 04:08 PM

Allow the medical people to get more data concerning this virus first before worrying. I'm sure its nothing much.

sakrilege · 03-17-2003, 04:13 PM

My sister and her 3 children are in China right now and I'm not overly worried for them. As I understand it, prolonged contact seems to be necessary to catch it. Here's hoping that's true.

03-17-2003, 04:24 PM

by sakrilege

My sister and her 3 children are in China right now and I'm not overly worried for them. As I understand it, prolonged contact seems to be necessary to catch it. Here's hoping that's true.

My reply : I see ...

What I heard about this virus is that people who did came in contact with it so far are the medical personals who were handling the already sick person. Source so far is unknown and means of transfer from one person to another is unknown (probably touch or even air-borne ... not to get you worried).

So far, no cases in Malaysia or surrounding areas and the first case was from Hong Kong I believe.

Strawberry · 03-17-2003, 04:28 PM

That case in Toronto was in my neighborhood, and I am overly worried. My cousin's wife got a pneumonia superbug a few years ago, and she almost died. She was in the hospital for months, and she's still recovering. I shudder to think what would happen if that spread...

03-17-2003, 05:17 PM

By Strawberry

That case in Toronto was in my neighborhood, and I am overly worried. My cousin's wife got a pneumonia superbug a few years ago, and she almost died. She was in the hospital for months, and she's still recovering. I shudder to think what would happen if that spread...

Lets not worried too much of something which may not happen. Medical personals are working on it and the mass (we're the one) worrying about it will not do anyone any good.
Matter a fact, worrying about it will get others panic. Relax and let those who are trained to this situation handle it.

Answerer · 03-17-2003, 07:24 PM

Well, there is some worries in my country over the recent outbreak.

03-17-2003, 09:14 PM

No reports in my country about this sickness yet ... maybe because the warning about the sickness came just in time.

Answerer ... any news (other than rumors) about the source or maybe the background of people who were involve in this mess?

I can't offer much other than saying that it seems to be originated around north Asian side (China and Hong Kong side ... sakrilege, I'm sure your sister and family is fine).

Hmmm ... why is this forum so damn quiet all the sudden? It's like a damn mortuary ... O_o someone died?

Mad Kally · 03-17-2003, 09:18 PM

It's quiet in here because you've made everyone Panic!

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03-17-2003, 04:08 PM	#3
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	Allow the medical people to get more data concerning this virus first before worrying. I'm sure its nothing much.

03-17-2003, 04:13 PM	#4
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	My sister and her 3 children are in China right now and I'm not overly worried for them. As I understand it, prolonged contact seems to be necessary to catch it. Here's hoping that's true.

03-17-2003, 04:24 PM	#5
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	by sakrilege My sister and her 3 children are in China right now and I'm not overly worried for them. As I understand it, prolonged contact seems to be necessary to catch it. Here's hoping that's true. My reply : I see ... What I heard about this virus is that people who did came in contact with it so far are the medical personals who were handling the already sick person. Source so far is unknown and means of transfer from one person to another is unknown (probably touch or even air-borne ... not to get you worried). So far, no cases in Malaysia or surrounding areas and the first case was from Hong Kong I believe.

03-17-2003, 04:28 PM	#6
Strawberry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA/Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 627	That case in Toronto was in my neighborhood, and I am overly worried. My cousin's wife got a pneumonia superbug a few years ago, and she almost died. She was in the hospital for months, and she's still recovering. I shudder to think what would happen if that spread...

03-17-2003, 05:17 PM	#7
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	By Strawberry That case in Toronto was in my neighborhood, and I am overly worried. My cousin's wife got a pneumonia superbug a few years ago, and she almost died. She was in the hospital for months, and she's still recovering. I shudder to think what would happen if that spread... Lets not worried too much of something which may not happen. Medical personals are working on it and the mass (we're the one) worrying about it will not do anyone any good. Matter a fact, worrying about it will get others panic. Relax and let those who are trained to this situation handle it.

03-17-2003, 07:24 PM	#8
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Well, there is some worries in my country over the recent outbreak.

03-17-2003, 09:14 PM	#9
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	No reports in my country about this sickness yet ... maybe because the warning about the sickness came just in time. Answerer ... any news (other than rumors) about the source or maybe the background of people who were involve in this mess? I can't offer much other than saying that it seems to be originated around north Asian side (China and Hong Kong side ... sakrilege, I'm sure your sister and family is fine). Hmmm ... why is this forum so damn quiet all the sudden? It's like a damn mortuary ... O_o someone died?

03-17-2003, 09:18 PM	#10
Mad Kally Banned Join Date: May 2001 Location: LALA Land in California Posts: 3,764	It's quiet in here because you've made everyone Panic!

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