Chinese Worry About Another SARS Outbreak

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING - Six months ago, the newly opened Chengdu Snacks was one of
thousands of businesses forced to shut down as the streets of Beijing
emptied and people stayed home in fear of SARS. The eatery reopened
after a month, but business hasn't been the same.

Though lunchtime is packed with people slurping spicy noodles and
snagging dumplings from bamboo steamers, customers are slowly
vanishing again amid fears that SARS — which first appeared in
southern China last Nov. 16 — could resurface with the cold weather.

"People think SARS is on the way back, so they're eating at home,"
said Yi Binglong, 28, who moved to the capital from China's southwest
to open Chengdu Snacks. "In September and October, there would be
customers through the afternoon. Now they disappear after lunch."

Yi isn't the only one on tenterhooks.

"It all feels a bit funny at the moment, just this waiting to see what
will happen," said Julie Hall, the SARS team leader at the World
Health Organization's Beijing office.

The Chinese government, which was harshly criticized both at home and
abroad for withholding news of the SARS outbreak in its early months,
has unleashed a stream of rhetoric aimed at persuading the masses that
improved surveillance and reporting can avoid another epidemic.

This month, Vice Premier Wu Yi, who is also health minister, said
China is "capable of preventing and controlling a resurgence of SARS."

A Chinese scientist at the forefront of SARS research was more
adamant. "With these active measures, I believe there will not be an
outbreak of SARS this winter," Professor Zhong Nanshan was quoted as
saying on the Web site of People's Daily, the Communist Party
newspaper.

When the first known human case of severe acute respiratory syndrome
occurred in southern China's Guangdong province a year ago, no one
noticed; SARS had never been seen before and had yet to be named. It
was only later that researchers tracked down what is believed to be
that first victim.

By early spring, cases were popping up around the globe, most notably
in Hong Kong and Canada, causing mass panic. In all, 774 people died
and more than 8,000 were sickened, according to WHO.

Mainland China accounted for more than half the cases and deaths but
kept its figures secret until April, when the government — under
pressure from the international community — vowed to be more open and
aggressive.

Sweeping, sometimes draconian measures were taken, especially in
Beijing, the hardest-hit area in the world. Mass temperature-taking
began. Coughers were shunned, spitters condemned. Officials ordered
schools, movie theaters and restaurants closed. They sealed hospitals
and quarantined thousands of people at home.

The central government and local authorities have reactivated some of
those measures, beefed up others and instituted new ones.

In September, the Ministry of Health revived its nationwide system of
daily reports on SARS cases. So far, the tally of suspected or
confirmed cases has remained at zero.

A new computerized reporting system went into effect in early
November, with plans to have all national, provincial and county
hospitals linked.

Chinese cities, meanwhile, have started checking travelers for fever
again. The port city of Tianjin, east of Beijing, reports any traveler
with a temperature above 100 degrees. In Urumqi, in the far west,
people with temperatures above 99.5 degrees are not allowed on public
buses.

Scientific knowledge about SARS remains elusive. The disease's origin
remains unknown, no cure has been found, and WHO says a vaccine is at
least two years away.

Researchers believe people may have gotten the virus from animals that
were infected by another, still mysterious disease, but it's still
unclear how the sickness jumps from animals to people. Raccoon-dogs,
ferret badgers and civet cats in southern China have been found
harboring a germ almost identical to SARS.

WHO's Hall said mobilizing against a disease that may or may not
return has been an unusual challenge.

"People feel like they've learned from the last time," she said. "But
everyone just feels a tiny bit jittery, a tiny bit jumpy. That's the
worry: You get one case and all this pent-up energy just explodes in
panic. We really hope that's not the case."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...iting_for_sars

It is high time that Mainland China should be "SARSERIZED" at least to drive
away some potential investors to some countries in South East Asia. China,
for too long had siphoned away our rice bowls.


"Mighty Land" wrote in message
om...
By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING - Six months ago, the newly opened Chengdu Snacks was one of
thousands of businesses forced to shut down as the streets of Beijing
emptied and people stayed home in fear of SARS. The eatery reopened
after a month, but business hasn't been the same.

Though lunchtime is packed with people slurping spicy noodles and
snagging dumplings from bamboo steamers, customers are slowly
vanishing again amid fears that SARS - which first appeared in
southern China last Nov. 16 - could resurface with the cold weather.

"People think SARS is on the way back, so they're eating at home,"
said Yi Binglong, 28, who moved to the capital from China's southwest
to open Chengdu Snacks. "In September and October, there would be
customers through the afternoon. Now they disappear after lunch."

Yi isn't the only one on tenterhooks.

"It all feels a bit funny at the moment, just this waiting to see what
will happen," said Julie Hall, the SARS team leader at the World
Health Organization's Beijing office.

The Chinese government, which was harshly criticized both at home and
abroad for withholding news of the SARS outbreak in its early months,
has unleashed a stream of rhetoric aimed at persuading the masses that
improved surveillance and reporting can avoid another epidemic.

This month, Vice Premier Wu Yi, who is also health minister, said
China is "capable of preventing and controlling a resurgence of SARS."

A Chinese scientist at the forefront of SARS research was more
adamant. "With these active measures, I believe there will not be an
outbreak of SARS this winter," Professor Zhong Nanshan was quoted as
saying on the Web site of People's Daily, the Communist Party
newspaper.

When the first known human case of severe acute respiratory syndrome
occurred in southern China's Guangdong province a year ago, no one
noticed; SARS had never been seen before and had yet to be named. It
was only later that researchers tracked down what is believed to be
that first victim.

By early spring, cases were popping up around the globe, most notably
in Hong Kong and Canada, causing mass panic. In all, 774 people died
and more than 8,000 were sickened, according to WHO.

Mainland China accounted for more than half the cases and deaths but
kept its figures secret until April, when the government - under
pressure from the international community - vowed to be more open and
aggressive.

Sweeping, sometimes draconian measures were taken, especially in
Beijing, the hardest-hit area in the world. Mass temperature-taking
began. Coughers were shunned, spitters condemned. Officials ordered
schools, movie theaters and restaurants closed. They sealed hospitals
and quarantined thousands of people at home.

The central government and local authorities have reactivated some of
those measures, beefed up others and instituted new ones.

In September, the Ministry of Health revived its nationwide system of
daily reports on SARS cases. So far, the tally of suspected or
confirmed cases has remained at zero.

A new computerized reporting system went into effect in early
November, with plans to have all national, provincial and county
hospitals linked.

Chinese cities, meanwhile, have started checking travelers for fever
again. The port city of Tianjin, east of Beijing, reports any traveler
with a temperature above 100 degrees. In Urumqi, in the far west,
people with temperatures above 99.5 degrees are not allowed on public
buses.

Scientific knowledge about SARS remains elusive. The disease's origin
remains unknown, no cure has been found, and WHO says a vaccine is at
least two years away.

Researchers believe people may have gotten the virus from animals that
were infected by another, still mysterious disease, but it's still
unclear how the sickness jumps from animals to people. Raccoon-dogs,
ferret badgers and civet cats in southern China have been found
harboring a germ almost identical to SARS.

WHO's Hall said mobilizing against a disease that may or may not
return has been an unusual challenge.

"People feel like they've learned from the last time," she said. "But
everyone just feels a tiny bit jittery, a tiny bit jumpy. That's the
worry: You get one case and all this pent-up energy just explodes in
panic. We really hope that's not the case."


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...iting_for_sars

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 08:39:53 +0000, the renowned The Man
wrote:

On 15 Nov 2003 21:04:31 -0800, (Mighty Land)
wrote:

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer


Maybe if the Chines stopped hawking up and spitting everywhere they
might stop the outbreak

Don't forget holding one nostril shut with a finger and snotting on
the sidewalk.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 08:39:53 +0000, The Man
wrote:

On 15 Nov 2003 21:04:31 -0800, (Mighty Land)
wrote:

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer


Maybe if the Chines stopped hawking up and spitting everywhere they
might stop the outbreak


-
In the beginning there was nothing........which exploded

I thought SARS is not airborne !!!

Am I mistaken?

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 11:15:22 GMT, the renowned (Kaherah)
wrote:

On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 08:39:53 +0000, The Man
wrote:

On 15 Nov 2003 21:04:31 -0800, (Mighty Land)
wrote:

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer


Maybe if the Chines stopped hawking up and spitting everywhere they
might stop the outbreak


-
In the beginning there was nothing........which exploded

I thought SARS is not airborne !!!

Am I mistaken?

If there are droplets in the air, then it is airborne.. intubation of
patients was one of the main risk areas for transfer inside hospitals.

Besides, you have dozens of big gobs of hork and snot on the streets,
some of it gets on your shoes, gets tracked around, you touch your
shoes etc. etc.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

"Kaherah" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 08:39:53 +0000, The Man
wrote:

On 15 Nov 2003 21:04:31 -0800, (Mighty Land)
wrote:

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer


Maybe if the Chines stopped hawking up and spitting everywhere they
might stop the outbreak


-
In the beginning there was nothing........which exploded

I thought SARS is not airborne !!!

Am I mistaken?

It's airborne. They recently found that cats were passing it through their
nostrils and other infected animals died but the infected cats survived.