Greetings Pnri:
These are most up-to-date reports (today) from results of a search at
Google News for SARS (Google News is located at
http://news.google.com/ ):
SARS-like virus widespread in Chinese markets
Study suggests SARS could again jump from animals to humans by Tom
Spears
Friday, September 05, 2003
"OTTAWA -- A virus found in wild animals captured and sold for food in
China is genetically similar to the virus that infects humans with
SARS, suggesting the disease jumped from animals to humans and could
do so again, a study says."
From http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=4202D5D6-C639-4F29-BAC9-359F0C264231
Analysis Sees Three Futures For SARS - None Good by Laurie Garrett
September 5, 2003
"A new national intelligence analysis of this year's SARS outbreak
offers three scenarios for the future, ranging from a long-simmering
disease with occasional small-scale outbreaks in China and south Asia
to a wider spread with crippling economic consequences. Even if SARS
lies low, the impact could be devastating, the lead author of the
report said yesterday.
"Our sense was that because it is very difficult to eradicate, and it
has an animal reservoir, SARS is likely to come back," Karen Monaghan,
chief economist of the National Intelligence Council, said in an
interview. "But it might not come back this year. And that's the
worst-case scenario, really - that vigilance dissipates and we really
are caught off guard."
From http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hssars053441533sep05,0,3955066.story?coll=ny-health-headlines
New research shows civet cats key spreaders of SARS
"New research confirmed civet cats were key spreaders of the deadly
SARS virus which many fear could return in winter."
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/48410/1/.html
(A search of Google Images at http://images.google.com for civet cat
returned the images at
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=civet+cat in
case you've never seen one.)
China fears SARS return
9.05AM BST, 5 Sep 2003
"China has called on doctors and citizens to take precautions against
influenza this winter in case the flu-like SARS virus could return.
Some medical experts have said Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, an
epidemic which originated in south China in November and faded in
July, may only be dormant while others fear there are milder, mutated
versions that may still be circulating. Hong Kong scientists claim
genetic testing of animals sold as delicacies in a southern Chinese
market have confirmed suspicions that SARS jumped to humans from
animals."
From http://www.itv.com/news/2074777.html
05.09.2003 08:16:00 GMT
China's Ministry of Health dispels new SARS rumors
"Shanghai. (Interfax-China) - The Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH)
announced that there have been no new suspected or confirmed severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases discovered since the last two
patients left hospital on August 16, 2003, as CCTV, the national state
television station of China, has reported. An official from the MOH
said that although daily public information updates have no longer
been issued after August 16, as it was during the epidemic period, the
daily report mechanism has been maintained within health care
organizations at all levels. Up to now, no new SARS case has been
reported anywhere in China."
From http://www.interfax.com/com?item=Chin&pg=0&id=5657009&req=
China says Sars may return in winter - paper
06 September 2003
"BEIJING: China has called on doctors and citizens to take precautions
against influenza this winter when the flu-like Sars virus could
return, the China Daily said yesterday. Some medical experts have said
severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), an epidemic which originated
in south China in November and faded in July, may only be dormant
while others fear there are milder, mutated versions that may still be
circulating. People should take "all possible measures to prevent
influenza this autumn and winter which may also see the return of
Sars," the newspaper said, quoting health authorities."
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2650351a7144,00.html
Guangzhou Resumes Reporting System to Prevent SARS Return
September 03, 2003
"The deadly disease is likely to return this winter and next
spring..."
From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200309/03/eng20030903_123636.shtml
You may wish to search the Google news site daily for up-to-date
reports on the virus. This will keep you informed of the latest news
and to assess precautions you may want to take to protect your health.
*********
In a general Google search, here is some dated news that you may find
of interest:
From a WHO update on the Canadian threat at
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2003_07_02/en/ and dated July 7, 2003:
"With today’s change in the status of Toronto, Taiwan now remains the
last area in the world to have experienced recent local transmission
of SARS."
(I then did a "SARS China" search at the WHO site. The most recent
report I discovered was issued on May 20, 2003, by the Ministry of
Health, People's Republic of China at
http://216.239.41.104/cobrand_univ?q=cache:U6NWKOLv7doJ:www.wpro.who.int/wr/chn/docs/Pref_May20.pdf+SARS+china&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
- the number of cases then may be of interest to you.)
Sars-scarred Guangzhou on guard again
"BEIJING - South China's Guangzhou city is setting up a flu and fever
monitoring network in case Sars re-emerges this autumn. People
reporting fevers higher than 38 deg C and showing signs of respiratory
illness, such as coughing, will be placed under observation and
isolated for seven days, state media said."
From http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,207801,00.html
Thai airways books Q3 loss as Sars cuts travel
16 August 2003
"As Sars and terror fears receded this summer, Thai Airways restored
flights and launched promotions to lure back customers. The airline,
which is 93 per cent state owned, recently said passenger traffic
returned to normal in July."
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0%2C2106%2C2628826a6026%2C00.html
TRANSPORTATION / LOGISTICS - September 1 to September 15, 2003
UNITED TO RESUME TRANSPACIFIC SERVICE
"The airline, which earns 17% of its revenue from trans-Pacific
routes, has been gradually restoring its services since SARS fears
eased in June, Schwab said. The airline will also resume daily flights
between Hong Kong and Singapore in late October."
*********
Should you require any clarification of the links or information I
have provided, please request it before rating and closing this
question and I will be happy to respond. I wish you a safe journey.
Best regards,
journalist-ga
SEARCH STRATEGY:
World Health Organization SARS update
World Health Organization SARS update China
[internal search at WHO for SARS China]
Jiangsu SARS
Shanghai SARS
Guangzhou SARS
Google News Search:
http://news.google.com/
SARS
Jiangsu SARS
Shanghai SARS
Guangzhou SARS
Google Image search:
http://images.google.com
civet cat |
