Dr Rick

I shudder at imagining the reaction if I ever dared to tell my patients that "I don't see why...there [is] such a fuss over" a 3% mortality rate for something for which "there is no effective treatment" and "is mainly confined to medical personnel and family members of the sick."

There are many far worse or more contagious illnesses, but there are none identified that are far worse and more contagious whose cause is unknown.

That's what makes SARS frightening, and what frightens me.

Rick

pz

Another scary way to think about it: if there is a 3% chance of dying from it, and if it swept through a family of 5 (like mine), there is a 1 in 7 chance that at least one of us would die.

Those are not good odds. I wouldn't want to play that game.

NialScorva

Well, considering how little thought there is in the world, this doesn't sound too dangerous.

Writer@Large

The BBC has posted a pretty concise and readable FAQ on SARS. And, they're reporting that the WHO has actually advised people against traveling into Guangdong or Hong Kong.

I keep hearing it referred to as "superflu." I think the name's too catchy to not become popular. It certainly sounds better than either SARS or "supercold."

--W@L

MadKally

This is the first time I'm happy that I've become an agoraphobic. I purchase everything on the internet. I always put special instructions to please leave packages on my back porch. When UPS delivers the guy always rings the doorbell and I say "thank you" He says "OK see ya next time" (that's kind of funny) see ya... lol

I really do miss playing kissy face with Dr. Rick though.

Dr Rick

...Kally, we'll just have to wear masks and take homeopathics as a precaution...

xoxoxox
Rick

MadKally

Homeopathics, LMAO! Then we will be perfectly safe from just about every pathogen or virus in the world. Oh goody, I can hardly wait,

oxoxoxox
Kally

ps418

The latest worldwide SARS data from the WHO now lists 174 probable cases in the US, with no fatalities yet, while Singapore, for example, has 158 cases and 12 deaths. The mortality rate so far is very low in the US. However, there is no data on how many of these cases have recovered at this point, so many of the people now ill may not recover. The number of cases worldwide is now (4/14/03) at 3169, with 144 deaths, and 1499 recovered.

Patrick

Wyz_sub10

Three more fatalities over the weekend in Ontario. That makes 13 so far.

No, people should not move into "panic mode", but 13 is a considerable number, and as I mentioned earlier, the health system wasn't prepared to deal with mass cancellations of elective surgeries and multiple quarantines for those who are infected or "may be".

It is an issue worth being concerned about, but I strolled happily through Chinatown yesterday, and I didn't see any platic suits (although I have see a fe masks).

Gurdur

Distract them by talking about circumcision instead. Or the Atkins Diet. Or both.