Wired talks about the current tests involving those who have SARS. If it is related to the virus family that causes the common cold, does that then mean it can spread just as easily? Almost seems like the cold on mega-steroids. And another article linked to on Drudge's site, http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-03-27-0002.html. Anyone else think the stories about the illness are getting lost in the war coverage?
It's getting very serious. 800+ cases in Beijing, 400+ in Hong Kong. Here in Canada it's getting worse as well. In HK, nobody is going to restaurants or riding in buses. All schools are shut down. Hospitals and medical clinics are in chaos because people can easily get infected there through coughing or close contact. I was planning to go to HK in early April but now I have no choice but to delay it. Damn this SARS. The war is definitely overshadowing this SARS disease.
SARS in Taiwan The SARS epidemic is also affecting Taiwan. It is just been declared a contageous epidemic (though unfortunately, numbers in Taiwan are NOT included in the WHO's global totals, a state of affairs that angers the ROC government). This opens the way for schools to be closed if students there are found to have the epidemic. More and more people are wearing masks, especially in the local hospital where I am receiving treatment for an ankle injury. I am considering getting one for myself. There have been cases in nearly every county in the province, including here in Taichung. It has people here very concerned. The ROC government is also allowing Mainland Chinese to get one-month extensions to their visas so they do not have to make a return flight to the Mainland to get a new visa. Unfortunately, this has yet to be extended to foreigners. Foreigners who do not have a resident visa must leave Taiwan every six months to get a new visa (or go and come back for those few who have multiple entry visas). Unfortunately, this potentially exposes them to SARS and there is the chance that they will bring it back with them to Taiwan. There was actually a political dispute between the Taibei City government and the Central government on this for a few days, but it seems the wishes of the city government, and its mayor Ma Yingjiu, has won out for now.
"TORONTO - Health officials in Toronto have linked a cluster of previously reported SARS cases to a religious community in the city." All 500 members of the religious community have been told to go into isolation for a 10-day period. "Dr. Sheela Basrur, Toronto's medical officer of health, said there are 10 probable cases and 19 suspected cases among member." http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/04/14/sars_to030414