Personal Report From Singapore On SARS

by mustang 7 Replies latest social current

• 

  mustang

  This is an excerpt from my latest emails from DragonLady. I heard that 1200-1500 had been quarantined.

  <Singapore quote, 2 Apr.>

  The latest is 95 cases of SARS, 52 been discharged, 13 serious, the rest not so serious. It sounds about right about the quarantined figure.

  The doctor here is using the serum from a healthy recovered patient to treat the serious cases. The latest: one patient was recovering after this treatment. The antibody is working against the virus.

  The doctor said the patient is 90% not depending on the respiratory machine now,

  after the treatment 24 hours ago. This is the news on T.V last night.

  I left this out:

  SARS:

  4 death in Singapore due to SARS the latest. The last one happened two days ago.

  <endquote>

  I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SING RIGHT NOW IF I WASN'T RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS LEG INJURY!!! I was in the process of rescheduling my mid-March trip to April when all this broke out. I am watching the news on this daily, of course.

  Personally, I have noted that our treatment seems better than the treatment in China. I have been in Chinese hospitals and feel that there is a diligent effort made at treatment. However, the facilities are older; but to counter this, they bring in specialists and try to "leap-frog the generation gap" that is present in their older infrastructure.

  What I think is the problem in China, however, may be sheer numbers. I noted that all wards I went to had more beds than aisle-space. If this disease is that contagious, then I think they are overloading their capacity. Perhaps their efforts at quarantine and isolation are self-defeating.

  There is something very curious about flu outbreaks: they frequently start in China. (Remember the old "Hong Kong flu" and "Asian flu" of the 50-60's?) This one is no exception to that "rule-of-thumb". If anyone is thinking "bio-terror", what sense does starting with the Chinese make? Who is after them??

  Mustang
• 

  Nathan Natas

  Hi Mustang,

  I agree with you that it is unlikely that SARS is a manufactured virus: it is simply the latest version of the Asian Flu, dressed in a nice new politically correct label.

  Why do these viruses originate in Asia? I think a few reasons are:

  A. High population density

  B. Generally poor sanitation

  C. A great opportunity for cross species virus transmission/mutation because people in rural areas live in very close proximity to their livestock - cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, etc.

  If a virus was manufactured, it is likely that this design/engineering would be with the intention of using it as a weapon, so (barring an accidental release of the virus) it would be more suspect if the virus appeared in an area that China had an "issue" with, like Taiwan.
• 

  mustang

  Right on the money, Nathan!!!

  That is especially so with your observation of item# C. Most people miss that one

  Here are some relevent "stats":

  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec97/flu_12-16.html

  THE HONG KONG FLU

  December 16, 1997

  NewsHour Transcript

  A new strain of the flu, which experts believe was originally transmitted from chickens to humans, has the medical community concerned about a possible epidemic.

  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/viruses.htm

  During the last 100 years there have been three flu pandemics:

  • 1918-19, "Spanish flu," [influenza A(H1N1)], caused the highest number of known flu deaths: more than 500,000 people died in the United States, and 20-50 million people may have died worldwide. The flu virus that caused it was very deadly. Many died within the first few days after infection and others died of complications soon thereafter. The Spanish flu was unique because almost half of the people who died were young, healthy adults.
  • 1957-58, "Asian flu," [influenza A(H2N2)], caused approximately 70,000 deaths in the United States. The Asian flu was first identified in late February, 1957 in China and spread to the United States by June, 1957.
  • 1968-69, "Hong Kong flu," [influenza A(H3N2)], caused approximately 34,000 deaths in the United States. This pandemic H3N2 virus was first detected in Hong Kong in early 1968 and spread to the United States later that year. A(H3N2) viruses still circulate today.

  http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/mb302/field/viruses2.htm

  PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

  Year Influenza A type Severity

  1889-1890 H2N8 very high morbidity, mortality

  1918-1919 H1N1 "

  1957-1958 H2N2 "

  1968-1969 H3N2 moderately severe

  1977-1978 H1N1 relatively mild

  Of course the recent '97-'98 outbreak was very tough on the birds.

  Mustang
• 

  Nathan Natas

  You've seen the photos in the news - for a lo-o-ong time, surgical facemasks have been the Asian Fashion Statement, and with the outbreak of the newest version of the Asian flu - SARS - "designer" surgical facemasks have been popping up.

  These facemasks are almost completely INEFFECTIVE at protecting a person from a virus and provide a FALSE sense of security that could easily lead a person to take risks they shouldn't take.

  Surgical masks were designed for surgeons to wear during operations to prevent the surgeon's saliva and other oral, nasal or respiratory fluids from becoming projected into the patient's open wounds.

  One excellent way to get the flu is to touch someone who has it and then rub your eyes. You don't have to do it right away - the virus can stay on your hands for hours. The tear ducts in the corner of your eyes connect to your nose, (that's why when you cry your nose gets runny), and virii are easily able to navigate that pasage into your body. The surgical mask does not cover your hands or your face and eyes.

  Unless you're Michael Jackson and you want to up your freak quotient, it is a waste of money.

  The answer?

  For the truly paranoid, how about positive pressure Bio/Hazmat suits?
• 

  Pleasuredome

  at the moment 4-5% of people infected have died, so its not the big killer like the media makes out, and most of those deaths have been in countries that have had poor medical facilities. but it is highly contagious, so if it does infest a lot of people worldwide, then 4 - 5% of people could be a big number.

  sars causes pneumonia with flu like symptoms. if you are worried about catching it and want to do something about it, like nathan says, forget masks, and boost your immune system with blended esential oils, like four theives. if infected, essential oil of oregano will reduce the amount of fluid secreted into the lungs. but seek profesional advise first.
• 

  mustang

  After having congratulated myself for convincing her that the masks were not the answer, I still found myself talked into sending her some. So, 50+ N95 NIOSH 42CFR84 Standard Surgical masks are winging there way to Asia. I threw in some from an Industrial supplier, as well. Those people are OUT OF THEM over there!!!

  BTW, that specification is NOT based on medical requirements. It is an Industrial spec, having to do with PARTICULATE FILTRATION. The Surgical version specifically states that IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST GERMS on the carton!!!

  Industrial versions are used by carpenters, sanders, painters, gardeners and you name it.

  And in some locations the authorities are REQUIRING incoming passengers to wear the masks!!!!

  The only value that I can see of the masks is that they may instill better habits of the wearer, such as not rubbing the eyes and nose by forcing you to stop, think and "scrub".

  And the aggravation here is that while the causative agent has been confirmed, the transmission path(s)/method(s) have not been verified. So, there may still be some outstanding "vector"!!!!

  Oh well, my next trip keeps sliding out there into the future.

  Mustang
• 

  mustang

  Personal from Singapore:

  Our "house guest"/"charge" returned from Shanghai 2 weeks ago: he was quarantined for 10 days.

  I sent 50 surgical masks over (whether they do any good or not). Surgical masks are in short supply there. The shipping times are noticeably slower than in January!!!

  Latest:

  "Last week one of the largest vegetables wholesale distribution centre has shut down due to SARS.

  There were 8 cases. But all has been traced down to one 45 years old attended the funeral of one SARS death.

  Next 3 weeks all students here will be given a thermometer. Temperature to be taken twice daily."

  My company report (I'm in LA):

  Our Shanghai office has reported travel restrictions.

  I met a British traveler from Singapore yesterday. He was in good health.

  Condensed news:

  Beijing & Toronto on list of cities to avoid for travel.

  Singapore 189 infections with 17 deaths. Vegetable market infected. Police to act to enforce quarantine.

  Canada death toll rises to 15.

  Quarantines of 3 weeks are being considered in various places: this is twice the maximum (estimated???) incubation period.

  Beijing sets up Thermal Imaging Scanner; Singapore had already done this in the airport, screening all passengers. If you have a fever, this is spotted.

  Mustang
• 

  mustang

  SARS Observations:

  On this entry to Singapore, there was an extra form, the Health Form, in addition
  to the usual Entry Form.

  The Health Form requests:

  1) Any symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty in breathing?

  2) What countires have you visited in the last 6 days?

  3) Have you visited or cared for anyone with symptoms listed above?

  4) Have you taken aspirin (or other "antipyretic") in the last 6 hours?

  5) Give address & phone # where you are staying.

  6) Give nationality, passport #, mode of entry & flight/vessel #.

  Failure to fill ut the Health Form, lying on the Health Form or trying to skip the
  incoming Health Inspectors can be fined 10,000 $S and/or 6 months in jail.

  The Entry Form was the same as the last 6 entries over 5 years. It asks have you
  been to Africa or South America in the last week.
  (Warning: DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS!!!)

  All entrants are required to go through a single-file line with a Thermal Imaging
  Camera/Scanner. This produces a TV like display, in "real time" with a full "raster-scan"
  presentation of the infrared view of the objects viewed. The presentation gives the
  "first surface", so it does not directly view through clothing or such. In fact, I
  was asked to remove my cowboy hat or baseball cap both times.

  (I normally use the relatively inexpensive thermocouple or laser-sighted non-contact
  IR thermometers/pyrometers for engineering heat studies. But our R&D lab also has the
  more expensive (~30K $US) FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera as well. So, the morning before
  I left, I went over and had my picture taken with that. The technician scanned me and
  another guy and compared us. The forehead is the hottest point of the body; it read
  ~97.9 degrees Fahrenheit on both of us. At this time, I decided to go ahead with my
  trip plans.)

  So, I passed through the Health Inspectors, the Arrival Hall/Immigration, Duty-Free Store
  [ :) ] Baggage Claim and Customs ~1:45 AM and step into Singapore, meeting Dragon Lady
  and B-I-L. By 7 AM, I am on the Causeway Bridge filling out Entry Forms for Malaysia!!!
  We are off to KL (Kuala Lumpur) and the mountains of the highlands, beyond.

  They too have a Health Form. This one asks for the same symptoms, except of SEVERE coughing.

  I think this is a better choice; many people coughed on the planes. Some had colds, even.
  But I don't think as many people traveled with ANY illness as I have seen before. Persoanlly,
  my blood pressure medicine will cause coughing if it is interrupted and restarted. So,
  some discretion on this choice would be best.

  Needless to say, if there is any doubt, Doctors, Nurses and other officials are standing
  right there!!! You can be whisked to a hosptial, immediately. Passing through Narita/Tokyo,
  I saw a truck labled Quarantine. I have seen a Quarantine/Doctors Office in the Shanghai
  Airport. They have other problems, such as TB, and have a more detailed checklist.

  I didn't see the massive wearing of masks here that was the vogue about a month or two back.
  Singapore has been off the SARS list for about 4 weeks now. I see Hong Kong and China coming
  off the lists. It looks like Taiwan and Toronto are still under scrutiny. This can change daily,
  though. :)

  The most important point seems to be the extensive exposure to an infected individual. Casual
  contact has been ruled out; travel is returning to normal. Our friends from Shanghai are, in
  fact visiting while I am here.

  This crisis seems "weathered" but could again rear its head. The features are in place for
  handling it, now. Singapore has gone back to the watch for Dengue Fever; mosquito breeding
  places are being ferreted out. There were several deaths from it here, last year.

  While all seems under control and secure, I still may be quarantined from work on return to
  the US, as a precaution. :)

  Mustang