Are you aware of the SARS disease?

[Harrison]

SARS, basically, is a form of pneumonia.

Just a lot worse.

[Amanda525]

Yes it is....
Actually its interesting. My dad is a doctor and he is trained in what numbers to call.... there is a whole network for the location and discovery of SARS in the US. Also, there are theories of SARS being 2 viruses intercombined.... and no, I don't think it is genetically modified.... actually if anyone wants to know about more... I can ask my dad.

[Adam Y.]

think it is genetically modified.... actually if anyone wants to know about more... I can ask my dad.

I agree it isn't genetically modified for two reasons. Number one this disease originated from the country side of China and number two genetically making a disease is really only possible for scientists with loads of lab equipment. I believe they tried to make a smallpox virus with genetic material that can be obtained easily but unfournatly it is really expensive to do.

[Mark Hamilton]

Originally posted by codeoftherobot
It is not surprising that it started in China since their way of growing animals is very archaic and dangerous to health. Birds have been traced to be the cause of many flu and other respiratory diseases (beats me how but they just do. Just think about that bird you have in a cage ). The chickens are grown in close quarters to pig and cows so that the cows will unknowingly pick up the illness and when those animals are killed for meat or other products, the disease is passed onto humans.

The reason deadly diseases usually come from animals is because from an evolutionary standpoint, killing your host is a very bad strategy. Their are millions of bacteria and viruses that are completely harmless to humans. Many have evolved to the point of coexisting with us. Diseases that kill the host to quickly must either mutate to a non-virulent strain or run their hosts into extinction, making it impossible to continue to spread. The diseases deadly to humans generally come from another organism that is similiar enough to humans for it to infect us (while being harmless to its normal host). The disease has not evolved to the point of coexisting or at least not heavily injuring us because we are not the normal host. Eventually the disease must either mutate into a harmless strain, eliminate all potential hosts, or kill its hosts before it can effeciently spread. In history "plagues" generally die out relatively quickly.

[DarkRedDragon]

its probably viral, because bacteria mostly leave some big prints behind thme selves, because u would find toxins, cells, and/or lesions or other bodily reactions. Plus, bacteria are programmed to adapt to the host, all organisms have a basic want to live, that is why they can exist for a long while.

[Amanda525]

Yes, it's already determined as viral I believe. Viruses are interesting.....
Actually I hope to major in Microbiology/ nanotechnology in college (that's where I am going next year)
This is an interesting thread for me.... haha I'm a nerd!

[Raven_Writer]

The death rate is like, up to about 15% 2 weeks ago from what I heard.

I ain't really got much fear on it....just like what FDR (I think) said: "you have nothing to fear, but fear itself". Why get worked up over this, if you can't do anything about it? Virii can't be killed, they have to work through the system. And then if you try medicines (sp?) all the time, they become super virii.

[robot180]

I just got back from a cruise. At the Port of Miami we had to fill out this sheet asking like a hundred questions about SARS. It asked things like whether you have been to the countries of Canada, China, and a few others. The cruise went to a few ports in the Caribbean then going to Key West and back to Miami. In Key West the United States National Guard bored our ship and inspected every hallway. They said that everyone had to report to this one lounge on the ship with their documents (birth certificate, passport, etc.) at seven o'clock in the morning in order for the ship to be allowed to enter the US. The national security is so rediculous.

[shyra1353]

i live outside of toronto, so its on the news all the time here. from what i last heard, the death toll here stands at 32, but it could be higher.

i just came back from my doctors appointment at the hospital, and i had to answer all the screening questions related to sars.

personally, i think sars was blown way out of proportion by the media. i know that sounds wrong and cruel, considering those that have passed away because of it, but its just my opinion. from what i have heard, the chances of getting sars are really slim.

my family and i were talking about sars one night, and my mom brought up the point that all of the cases in toronto have been linked back to hospitals. implying that sars isnt as big of a threat because in hospitals, the places are kept so clean and sanitary that a small disease is a big thing and can be contracted more easily than when not in a health care environment. however, when you are in the city, there are so many other diseases and germs (like west nile, mad cow, even the flu) around that can be gotten easier, that sars justs falls into the background. i have to agree with her.

lastly, there are a lot of statistics on the web saying how unlikely it is for a person to get sars, but i cant remember them right now, and am too tired to go to bed.


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ps- if some of the wording didnt make sense, i am sorry, but its late and i need to get some sleep for my math exam tomorrow. wish me luck!!

[Brandon Martus]

Originally posted by shyra771
personally, i think sars was blown way out of proportion by the media.

Yeah, I agree. It's a serious issue, but there is no reason to scare everybody into believing that they all will catch it and die. Thats the media for you.

[Kristina]

I had a dream about SARS last night coming to LA, that's when you know they're publicizing it too much if i start to dream or rather nightmare about it.

/me shrugs...While it has been covered far too much in regions that don't need to worry about it (as most of the news we watch isn't even important either but that's another rant) some could see it as better then when it wasn't publicized at all and that's how it got spread so quickly because people just weren't aware and didn't know how to deal. Alas the tradeoffs that we must chose between.

[shyra1353]

Originally posted by Kristina
While it has been covered far too much in regions that don't need to worry about it (as most of the news we watch isn't even important either but that's another rant) some could see it as better then when it wasn't publicized at all and that's how it got spread so quickly because people just weren't aware and didn't know how to deal.

i agree that something had to be said to the general public, but there is a fine line between informing people of the risks of sars and scaring them to death (no pun intended) about it.

[Frank(Aflak)]

It cancelled my Chinese class's trip to China . . . well, postponed it a year, pending control of the disease.

If It wasn't for SARS, I would be living large in China as we speak. 4 star hotels, buffet meals . . . . aaaa, grrrrr. stoopid SARS.

At least there is always next year.

[Ken Leung]

Originally posted by Brandon Martus
Yeah, I agree. It's a serious issue, but there is no reason to scare everybody into believing that they all will catch it and die. Thats the media for you.

Sometimes the media is blowing things out of proportion to attract more attention... But it's quite scary when you hear that in Taiwan, thousands of medical personal is resigning because their government is incapable of handling SARS, as a result, lots of doctors are infected because of the failure of the government to educate people about this. There are doctors who don't even go home fearing they will infect their family, there are others quitting for the very same reason.

Basically, the worst case that could happen, is when the disease is spreaded beyond control, and your medical personnel are quitting because of fear and dying from the disease. Kind of like the break down of a society when a plague has gone to its worst phrase.

Yes... the media could be blowing this out of proportion for this... But you guys don't live in Taiwan, or Hong Kong, or China. You haven't seen everyone on the street wearing masks. Just be very very careful when you might have a chance of getting the bug. Treat it like it could harm you a great deal. Don't be scared. Just be aware of it, and very careful.

[Cory]

I totally agree with Ken. Also, I read somewhere a little while back that the government in China was taking away doctors licenses to practice medicine if they refused to treat SARS patients. Isnt that great? now someone who just needs regular medical attenton cant get it because the government revoked their doctors license.

Cory