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Biotech / Medical : SARS and Avian Flu -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RealMuLan who wrote (118)	4/16/2003 7:53:05 AM
From: quidditch	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4232

WHO: Beijing could have 5X the number of officially reported cases.... By Jonathan Ansfield BEIJING, April 16 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation said China, epicentre of a flu-like virus that has killed about 160 people worldwide, had failed to report all its cases and the capital, Beijing, could have five times the official number. The virus, which is new to science and has no known cure, has been carried by air travellers to around 22 countries in the past six weeks, infecting over 3,400 people. Hong Kong, the second most affected area after mainland China, reported five more deaths from the virus on Wednesday. "Indeed there have been cases of SARS -- there is no question about that -- that have also not been reported officially," German WHO virologist Wolfgang Preiser said after a visit to a military hospital in Beijing. "The military seems to have its own reporting system which does not link in presently with the municipal one," he told a news conference on Wednesday. WHO officials called for full disclosure from the country where Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) first appeared in November and which has been criticised widely for not sharing information with the rest of the world soon enough. Officials were asked how many cases Beijing really had. "I would guess the range would be between 100 and 200," WHO official Alan Schnur replied. Only thirty-seven cases have been officially reported in Beijing. A team of WHO virologists and epidemiologists were allowed to visit two military hospitals in Beijing -- days after asking for permission -- as the government responded to pressure. SARS has killed at least 65 people and infected 1,445 in mainland China -- nearly half of the world's cases -- since it first surfaced in the southern province of Guangdong. SINGAPORE TEST In a sign some progress was being made in the fight against the illness, Singapore said it hopes to have a diagnostic test ready in a week following 12 deaths from SARS in the tiny island nation in less than a month. But scientists in Hong Kong said they may have detected a more virulent form of the virus in the densely populated city where the disease has killed 61 people and infected 1,268. Key data to help explain SARS may emerge from China in three to four weeks, due to the new openness of officials, said Dr David Heymann, head of the WHO's contagious diseases unit. "What's the future of this disease?" he said in New York. "We won't know until we see what's going on in China. Everything hinges on what we find out in China." Scientists have been working feverishly on diagnostic tests for SARS, after mapping the genetic sequence of the virus. The state-run Genome Institute of Singapore said its new test would take three hours and may be sensitive enough to detect the virus in its early stages before a person develops SARS symptoms such as high fever and a dry cough. "We need to find the kit, get it tested, validated and then applied for general use. We will put out the kits on Friday," Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said in a news conference. To help detect SARS cases, Wong said Singapore started to use a thermal imaging system at its Changi airport on Friday for passengers arriving on flights from China and Hong Kong. A passenger stands in front of the system, developed by Singapore Technologies, to have his temperature checked, the minister said. On Monday, a German company, Hamburg-based Artus GmbH, said it was distributing a quick "real-time" test that can detect the virus by looking for its genetic signature. (Additional reporting by Jason Szep in Singapore, Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong, Ellen Wulfhorst in New York and Maggie Fox in Washington)

To: RealMuLan who wrote (118)	4/16/2003 9:35:44 AM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 4232

I actually heard that a couple of years ago, Germany already got SARS cases. You have a reference for this claim? I find it most unlikely. The German company was given samples of the virus a few weeks ago, and so it is quite believable to me that they came up with a PCR-based test in the couple of weeks they had. It's possible to come up with tests like this pretty quickly - it's getting them validated and approved that takes a long time. Peter

To: RealMuLan who wrote (118)	4/16/2003 12:06:38 PM
From: Don Green	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4232

ZW> I actually heard that a couple of years ago, Germany already got SARS cases. Wonder why this time they are so quick in developing the test for SARs. seems to me more than just coincidence. China SARS stats exclude military CNN Asia - Doctors from the World Health Organization have revealed that Beijing's cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are largely undercounted. The misrepresentation came to light when it was revealed the numbers released by the government excluded patients in military hospitals. edition.cnn.com

To: RealMuLan who wrote (118)	4/17/2003 3:00:48 PM
From: SBHX	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4232

YiWu, I think misdirection doesn't help solve the problem. Since we are innocent bystanders and not active participants, I assume nothing we say makes any difference. However, finding the truth of how it started and where with a view of how to keep the deaths minimized is likely the goal of organizations such as WHO. I live near Toronto, and I am not blaming the chinese community for this like many less informed people have (It could have started anywhere - GuangDong was just unlucky, just like HK, Toronto were). However, consciously or not, misdirection without any basis in fact will only kill more people. Every single day that passes means more people dying, so at least have a heart.