Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: Biomaven who wrote (139)	4/16/2003 4:39:33 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4232

10,000 people quarantined in Ontario province in Canada, and the Anglican church there seems bent on reducing the number of its parishioners: Easter weekend crucial in SARS battle By ALLISON DUNFIELD Globe and Mail Update The upcoming Easter weekend is crucial in Ontario?s battle against SARS, provincial health officials said, warning any individuals experiencing symptoms to stay away from church services or family celebrations. ?We?re at a weekend where there?s a lot of activity. We?ve got a whole lot of risk factors coming together at once and we?ve got a message that?s not popular with anyone,? James Young, Ontario?s Commissioner of Public Security, said Wednesday at a press briefing on severe acute respiratory syndrome. Dr. Colin D?Cunha, Ontario?s chief medical officer of health, produced a set of guidelines for churches to follow for religious services this weekend. However, Anglican churches in the Toronto-area have said they will continue to share the communal cup this Easter weekend. Roman Catholics, on the other hand, have been ordered not to share the chalice under new guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of SARS. Roman Catholic leaders announced that sacramental wine won?t be sipped from a shared chalice, the sign of peace will be shared with a nod instead of a handshake and communion wafers will be placed in a parishioner?s hand, not on their tongue. The Anglican Diocese of Toronto has instructed its clergy to continue using the common communion cup because church articles state ?the cup is not to be denied to the congregation.? Anglican priests, however, were asked to wash their hands thoroughly before distributing communion and to carefully wipe the chalice between each parishioner. Dr. D?Cunha said he hopes religious leaders in the city will ?reflect on their practices? and do the right thing. The Toronto health officials again warned individuals who have been asked to quarantine themselves to stay in isolation in their homes for the entire period. ?We cannot stress enough the importance of the coming few days, the very great importance of people following our instructions,? Dr. Young said. That means avoiding school, work, church and public transit, he said. The health officials said although they feel fairly confident that they have headed off the illness by strict practices in the community and in institutional settings, the new challenge is amidst the household settings. Family members who are put into isolation must not intermingle with other households or relatives, he emphasized. Dr. Young said 15 people who have been quarantined are under court orders not to return to the community. While he did not rule out the idea of electronic surveillance?which is being done in Singapore?he said there are legal issues that would have to be dealt with. Also, the province is looking into the availability of such devices. Provincewide, since the outbreak of the illness, about 10,000 people have been quarantined, including 1,500 people in Toronto, Dr. D?Cunha said. With a report from Canadian Press

To: Biomaven who wrote (139)	4/17/2003 2:27:10 PM
From: SBHX	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4232

Realistically, a vaccine for a mutant common cold is unlikely, however, perhaps vaccines for the worst strain(s) would have to do. If transmission rate is identical to the common cold and the death rate is only 4%, then unless this wonder-vaccine shows up soon, it is only a matter of time that we all get it. 4%5B = still a lot of dead people. However, if it is 25% as reported by someone in Beijing then 25%5B is obviously a bigger problem. time.com Posted Monday, April 14, 2003; 22:50 HKT This is the hospital ward China's Ministry of Health doesn't want you to see. There are more than 100 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients crammed into tiny rooms in the infectious diseases section of Beijing's You'an Hospital. "Every single one of us in this building is a SARS patient," says a nurse surnamed Zhang who worked at the People's Liberation Army Hospital (p.l.a.) No. 301 until 11 days ago, when she was diagnosed with the disease and admitted here. "There are at least 100 SARS patients here, if not several hundred. The conditions here are really bad. We're not allowed out of this room. We piss in this room, crap in this room and eat in the room. As far as I know, at least half of the patients here are doctors and nurses from other hospitals." As a Time reporter continued through the ward, another nurse who wouldn't give her name stopped him and explained, "Look, I'm not pushing you away. I do this for your own good. It's too dangerous here. It's really a terrible disease, even we who work here don't know when we'll get it. No place is safe in this hospital. All of these wards are full of SARS patients, there are over 100 at least. Don't believe the government—they never tell you the truth. They say it's a deadly disease with 4% mortality? Are you kidding me? The death rate is at least 25%. In this hospital alone, there are over 10 patients dead already." Mind you, there will still be a lot of people alive after that in either scenario, though I assume there's some playable long positions in funeral supply chain industry. If SARS breaks 1000 dead barrier, I'm going camping for 6 months in Newfoundland. If SARS doesn't get you, West Nile will.