I remember hearing that it (west-nile virus) was in Wa State (US) I don't have a source but it all goes back to your comments on global travel Simon. I put up some gov stats on WNV
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/WNV/Surveillance03.html#Statistics
Remember the fears about the spread of AIDS? SARS is the reality
by Simon 29 Replies latest social current
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concerned mama
Simon, as you can see on the map in the previous post, West Nile is right below us. The disease is carried in birds as well, and it can be guessed that the virus will come to us with the birds as they return North for the summer. The first sign is dying birds in the magpie, crow, blackbird family. Then a certain specific species of mosquito has to spread the virus, and again, that species is moving this way and unfortunately should be here by this summer. There has been publicity about getting rid of standing water in eaves and being careful of birdbaths. Like, we don't already have enough mosquitoes.......
I have bought lots of repellent containing DEET. My son is doing groundskeeping at the local golfcourse for the summer, and I love to garden and we have a lake cabin, and I want to be prepared.
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Simon
It's scary that we have to learn to live with such a dangerous but almost unseen threat.
I hope it doesn't turn out to be too serious or inconvenient to you all.
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Mulan
Yes, there have been a few cases in our State (Washington)...........people who had returned from Hong Kong and China (same thing aren't they?). They recovered.
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RunningMan
The SARS "epidemic" is grossly overblown. I was in Toronto about a month ago and lived. In fact, statistically speaking, the drive to the airport was riskier than the likelihood of getting SARS.
Currently there are only 11 active cases of SARS in Canada, and it appears to be contained.
As well, unlike AIDS, SARS is a fairly simple virus. With a little more time, a vaccine and treatments will be developed.
Most people don't seem to understand the relative risks involved in being human. In reality, the flu is far more dangerous. And last year, 750,000 persons died from measles. Even chicken pox killed 100 persons in the U.S. last year. We kill more people on our highways in Canada every two days, than died from SARS in the past two months.
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Earnest
Although far more people die from other diseases I think the panic about SARS is directly linked to memories of the 'flu epidemic of 1919. The fact that it is contagious and, as yet, without a vaccine gives it the potential to become a pandemic.
Hwever, the good news is that, according to a release from WHO yesterday (15 May) (http://www.who.int/csr/sars/guidelines/gatherings/en/) :
...only persons with symptoms are contagious and can transmit the disease, and close contact is required for transmission. Close contact means having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids of a suspect or probable case of SARS.
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Hamas
I said :
Yeah Yeah heard it all before
Just scare mongering tactics.
I wouldn't worry about it, you can die of anything in this sick world. Carry on in your business.
You lot panicked.
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Hamas
Now it's all but over.
Relax Cargo. Theres not a cop for 20 blocks.
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czarofmischief
I think that SARS was just a media feeding frenzy. Sure, it was a real thing, but it was publicized completely out of context and with tons of pictures of Hong Kong officials in surgical masks.
The real test is whether or not it comes back this winter. The Spanish Flu in 1918 (remember the WT emphasizing about this) actually had a first wave in the early months, then faded as most flus do during the summer and fall, and then resurged with a vengeance in the winter. It was the typical flu pattern, but with deadlier results than most.
Brace for winter!
CZAR
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RAYZORBLADE
Yup, I'm living in Toronto.....you know, that place where SARS is lurking at every street corner and in your home (UGH!).
Things have subsided thankfully with regards to any outbreaks.
The amount of people who died of SARS over the last few months was tragic, but things have pretty much come to a standstill, with no new cases reported.
In a city (city limits) of 2.7 million, you'd have to try pretty damn hard and go out of your way to get it. Otherwise, we're still standing.
Seems like if anyone died of 'something' it was a media hype, only to be found out later, the person did not have SARS. It gets to be a bit of overkill in the media.
I laughed when I saw that one report, not sure if was CNN or another American carrier, and it had a man wearing a mask during the interview in some outdoor setting.
Ridiculous!
2.7 million people are still standing, including yours truly.