So far SARS has killed a few hundred; regular "flu" kills 250,000/year. That's not to say we don't have a potentially deadly epidemic-in-the-making. For years I have dealt mainly in cash. Paid my bills, both private and public with it, and kept some on hand. But I'm gonna switch to checks and credit cards, because cash (mainly paper money) carries zillions of germs. All someone with SARS or ANY communicable desieze has to do is handle (or sneeze/cough) on money for you to get whatever they have. Luckily, I live in a tiny, remote location and don't have to worry about elevators because there are none in the county. But I now carry alcohol 'wipes' with me, and whenever I have to handle 'dirty' money, I clean my hands.
Ranger, we really don't know how bad SARS is yet. It has been spreading in China since Febuary, but the chinese govt won't give out figures on infections and death rates. Based on the known cases outside China, the SARS death rate is 3.75 per 100 cases. The normal flu death rate is 0.01 per 100 cases, so SARS is much more deadly, BUT we have lucked out since this isn't flu season, if this were say Oct or Nov, I'd really be worried. You are doing the right thing with the wipes, I wish everyone would
Today's SARS news.... Hong Kong faces the Worst as SARS Spreads Reuters Sunday, April 6, 2003; 9:55 PM HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong hospitals prepared for a worst-case scenario of up to 3,000 cases of the deadly SARS virus by the end of April, as the pneumonia-like disease claimed yet another victim in Canada. New cases in Hong Kong climbed by 42 on Sunday to 842. Hospital Authority chairman Leong Che-hung said in an interview with a local television station there would be sufficient manpower and facilities to deal with up to 3,000 patients, although intensive care units would be under pressure. In Singapore, where infection numbers are fourth highest in the world, its prime minister warned that growth targets for this year would have to be revised downward because of the outbreak of the disease, which has killed 95 people around the globe. The latest victim was from Canada, bringing to nine the death toll in the country. Infections have risen to 179 in the province of Ontario, which has the bulk of cases. Canada has the world's third highest infection total. Globally, cases exceed 2,600. In Hong Kong, where the rising number of infections has placed enormous strain on hospitals, authorities are bracing for the worst possible scenario of between 1,800 and 3,000 cases by the end of April, Leong said. "We hope that we can contain the disease so that we don't have to go to the worst-case scenario," Leong said during an interview on Sunday night with ATV, a local television station. Up to a quarter of those infected in Hong Kong are medical staff, and the government is now trying to hire doctors and nurses from the private sector. With 22 people dead and 842 infected, Hong Kong is the second worst-hit area after southern China's Guangdong province, where the disease originated. CHINA TOLL NOW 51 China, which has been criticized for having been too slow to acknowledge the disease and warn its neighbors, said on Sunday its death toll from the virus had climbed to 51 with 1,247 infections as of April 5. A Finnish man died in Beijing from the virus on Sunday, taking the number of deaths in China's capital to four, a health official said. Pekka Aro, 53, arrived in Beijing from Thailand on March 23 to attend an international labor conference. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, whose administration is grappling with its first big crisis since taking office in March, said China could control the spread of the disease and welcomed visitors. But few are likely to take heed of the assurance. Most countries have taken extra precautions to screen visitors from affected areas and bar those showing symptoms of the disease, such as high fever, chills and breathing difficulties. Scientists are still trying to pin down the identity of the culprit virus, and some say more than one could be at work. The disease has a mortality rate of about 4 percent, roughly the same as bubonic plague and it is usually those with other serious illnesses who succumb. The biggest hospital in Singapore, which has 106 infections. started screening visitors after 20 of its nurses and a doctor were suspected of catching the virus. A doctor at Singapore General Hospital was confirmed to be infected, raising fears of a crack in the city state's strategy of isolating infected people. The epidemic is also hitting struggling Asian economies. In Hong Kong, where tourism makes up about six percent of the economy, 22 percent of flights were canceled on Sunday, similar to Saturday's level, as travelers canceled their plans. Full Legal Notice © 2003 Reuters --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
