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once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Hi all. I live in Hk and we seem to be getting a lot more news about SARS than you guys on the mainland do. Post a simple response of yes or specific questions if you would like me to run this post daily with updates as we get them from the TV and newspapers and websites that we seem to get better in HK than on the mainland.

THe lastest news is that there are 61 new cases in HK, and two more reported deaths on the mainland. THe name of the american guy that died is James Salisbury, and he was teaching at Shenzen polytechnic. HIs six year old son is also infected but from the reports is doing well. It is stated that James picked up the virus in HK, although this is not 100 % confirmed. His father in law and maid said he had visited the Metropole hotel, where it is believed that the doctor from Guandong who is thought to have originally brouhgt the virus to HK stayed.

I make now claim to the validity of any of the above information, but it is an accurate representaion of the news that we are now getting in HK.
If you would like me to post daily with updates please post a response.

chinasyndrome · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2003 12:01 pm Post subject:

Hi once again and thanks for the thoughtfulness. I'm in Shantou, pretty close to Shenzhen, HK and Guangzhou. I heard that we had 2 deaths here a few weeks ago and a dozen infections that are now recovering, but trying to get good information has been difficult.

I emailed WHO to ask if they have any city by city statistics for GD province, but have had no reply. I've got a team of 9 foreign teachers that I'd like to keep informed, so yes, anything you've got - please share it (except SARS or other communicable diseases).

Thanks for offering to help out. A big round of applause from the guys here.

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

There's a story running in one of the local English language papers in Bangkok today that a friend who was accompanying Mr. Salisbury to Hong Kong stated he appeared to be deceased before he was moved to Hong Kong from the mainland. The implication being it was only done so that there would not be another foreigner who died from SARS in the PRC. The Chinese authorities are denying this.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

23 hours newsreel on TV Pearl today (Friday): "7 foreign residents in Shanghai have been diagnosed with SARS..."
And: "Beijing does not have the SARS contagion under control..."
(A Chinese official from Guangdong, querying how the bureaucrats can de3cide that "everything is now under control" when the source of the virus still is not known...
In our school, kids still cough in each other's face. Outside, old men and women spit on the floor and walk over the greenish mucus in their flip-flops, with their feet unprotected inside (which they touch when they take these flip-flops off).

Seth · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 575 Location: in exile

Now that I've made the jump to Hangzhou (thank you, thank you), I'm a little paranoid being in the 'red zone.' I teach 1st and 2nd graders, who like to touch the waijiao, which irks me as I'm a bit of a hypochondriac in the first place. Most of the students are from Zhejiang or Fujian, some from Shanghai and some other places. I now carry around a bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer. If I get a cold, please excuse my frantic postings. Don't be surprized if I post my will. Crying or Very sad

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

According to the news there have been 49 new cases in HK today and three more deaths. 2 of the deaths were of healthy people in their mid-late 30s, which is a change as those that had died before had been old or in poor health.

There have been a total of 60 deaths in China so far.
8 foriegners thought to have SARS in Shanghai do not have it. There were 13 new cases in Canada and the first case in Indonesia.

THe WHO have again criticised the mainland for a lack of transparancy. WHO also state there is still no real understanding of how the virus is spread.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Sunday update..a little earlier than the English news,,but I will be busy later..according to the chinese speaking news channel there have been 45 more new cases today and 2 more deaths. From the translation I have just recieved the deaths were of relatively younger people again, in their mid forties and mid thirties..but don't hold me to that...as it came by way of translation. Who has again complained that in Bejing they are not getting enough information and are concerned that more cases are coming there but are not being reported.

I make no claim to any validity of this information etc.etc..especially as it came through translation..If I have time later I will post anymore or rectify this information once I have seen the english news channel.
Hope all that read this are well. Infact I hope that all that do not read this are well also..LOL

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

The news we got here about Mr Salisbury is that he was transfered once in a coma, and died en route to HK. It was reported that the school had contacted his family members and asked them to sign documentation absolving the school from any responsiblity for his death.

I make no claim as to the validity of the above statement and am merley stating what was reported in the press in Hong Kong.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Don't you think this is hysteria whipped up by the yellow press ? How many people die in traffic accidents every day ?

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

Scott, people are dying and getting infected in increasing numbers in even more countries everyday around the world. This disease has an unknown beginning and an end yet to be written. It is spreading and it is not under control. They don't have a handle on it, and that is one of the scariest aspects of SARS. You can call it media hype if you want, but it is there and it has to be dealt with. Media hype or not.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Scott,
the problem is not the death rate from SARS, minimal if we can believe the published statistics.
The real problem is that we have a new disease on our hands, one that no one knows how to deal with just yet.
It is an extremely contagious disease.
I repeat: There are no known treatments yet. There is no vaccination either.
But the disease does put people out of work. How many restaurant workers have lost their jobs in Hong Kong?
How many flights have had to be cancelled?
When is CATHAY PACIFIC going to stop ALL flights? (Passengers that used their planes down to 6000 from 30'000 a day!).
Obviously, it is disastrous for the economy... as all epidemics are!
Just over 1000 known SARS cases in Hong Kong - and the Fragrant Harbour is at near-standstill!

pattyflipper no more · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2003 12:10 am Post subject:

Well, some good news about SARS. I was reading in the Vancouver province today, and a team of cancer researchers uncoded the genome of the disease. They say this will help them to determine if people actually have it, and lead to a course of action. Lets all hope that this does,
Cody (PFNM)

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Monday 14th..it seems that there are 4O new cases in HK today and seven more deaths.

The Bejing authorities have stated that their first case came on 1st March, 25 days before they acknowledged SARA sufferes. I think it said there were 109 new cases in China today, or it could have been only Bejing, and I am not sure as the phone rang. 12 more in singapore have died and 9 new cases in Canada.

I make no claim to the accuracy of the above, but it was what came on the news!!!

It does seem that there will be a test soon, somehting that has been lacking and should allow for a earlier diagnose, which seems very important.