talk 487

Ten days ago, one of my colleagues at the University was hospitalized (at the Margaret Hospital) with a suspected case of SARS, four days later she was declared not to have been infected, and moved out of the ICU. Her husband, rather healthy all the time, is being released from house quarantine. I talked with the husband on a daily basis until I left for Taiwan last week for 4 days. When I came back, the dept and the school wanted to where ( rooms and labs) the couple have visited and who they have talked to. It appeared that I was one of the few who talked to him often. We all wear face masks when talking. You can see the school was somewhat in hysteria, and especial for the HK people in general. I have seen this kind lack of rationality in dealing with an apparent crisis before for at least three times. (For example a few months ago white vinegar in the markets were sold out to disinfect who-knows-what, causing " Sour air reaching the sky" ).

In general, this kind of reaction is due to the lack of relevant information ( medical and otherwise), rumors fly and fanned by the media

And, in particular is the lack of a sensible leadership from the government, a matter of foolishness and mindlessness originated from a bunch of highly-paid bureaucrats, always too early to take things lightly, and always too late to take proper actions at a later stage.

In addition to all these, China deliberately hid the SARS issue for months, refusing to admit they had the problem until a few days before, perhaps, the matter is getting out hand. HK is the direct victim of this problem ( the world is now also a victim, due to the lack of forewarning and early alert). We were caught by the on-slaughter, and totally without power to stop the flow of people coming into HK from Canton. Many many HK residents also work in the Pearl River Triangle everyday, and come home to HK in the evening. There in no-stopping of the flow of the virus crossing the border.

I was in one of the biggest supermarkets to get some paper napkins two nights before, at a time usually few people were around, but it was a mob scene this time. Buying up everything and anything. One of the hottest items is Rice, yes Rice. Need I say more about the panic state of HK currently is in.

Apparently the virus is transmitted by droplets and not by air ( modeling showed that air transmission causes exponential growth of the disease, which is not the case for SARS. The cause for the contraction at the Amoy apartments is still unclear since the residents could not all have been kissing cousins. It was suspected that the solid waste sewage system was part of the cause).

HK has some 750 cases of confirmed SARS, for a population of about 7.5 millions ( official population is 6.7 millions). The infection rate is about 1 in 10,000. Some 890 patients have recovered ( with a recovery of rate of ~ 80-90%) , and 16 died, mostly in the early days. It is not a case for panic and irrational hysteria, by any stretch of imagination. We in HK react as if the B-2 bombers and guided missiles were upon us. Just imagine the chaos when invasion forces did come to HK in December of 1941.

I understand SARS is spreading to the four corners of the world.

One the best ways to improve hand hygiene ( useful to reduce transmission as a result of touching our face ) can be found at the US CDC websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs021025.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5116a2.htm

The second one tells us alcohol is excellent for all kinds of disinfection ( virus, bacteria etc, with a concentration > 60%). Dry soap ( usually contains 62% or higher Isopropanol or Ethanol cut with glycerine and other inert ingredients) is what the medical profession in the US often uses....something for us to consider.

Boosting body immune capability is the advice I usually ge t.... getting enough sleep/rest, do not over exert ourselves,exercise moderately, eat sensibly and strop smoking. Something we should do always.