Ian's Messy Desk
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. -A.A. Milne
Saturday, May 03, 2003People, People, Let's Use Our Brains!
| Almost half of Americans think the United States is likely to face a SARS epidemic similar to that in Asia, according to an Associated Press poll. |
First of all, SARS may be a new disease but it's not an epidemic.
From my education and my dictionary:
Epidemic
Also, consider that all known/suspected SARS patients have been quarantined. It is not even close to likely that you'll "just happen" to catch it while shopping at the mall or riding the city bus, not even in Hong Kong.
A few quick numbers to put things in perspective:
| 6,054 | Total number of SARS cases (including survivors) in the world as of May 2 (WHO) |
| 417 | Total number of deaths from SARS in the world as of May 2 (WHO) |
| 3,000 | Number of children who die of malaria every single day in Africa (World Bank) |
| 41,000 + | Number of traffic deaths each year in the United States |
| 30,000 + | Number of gunshot deaths each year in the United States |
Disclaimer: I do not have the time to work this into a full-fledged statistical report but the numbers above are good estimates.
[Carol's Chaotic Collection of Curiosities]4:38:59 PM # Speak Up [] - See Also: SARS
SARS headlines. S. Korea and Poland report their first probable SARS cases to WHO, May 1. New Zealand reports its first probable SARS case, May 2. Jaingsu province of China reported its first probable SARS case, April 30. Taiwan outbreak continues to rapidly evolve. WHO (World Health Organisation) accommodates the use of lab tests into their revised definition of SARS cases, May 1. WHO has also provided new guidelines for the use of lab. tests. UK and US are dropped from WHO list of SARS "affected" areas (areas with local transmission, within the past 20 days). Tianjin province of China is declared "affected", along with Ulaan Baator in Mongolia, because of evident local transmission of SARS within the past 20 days. India is declared SARS-free by WHO. Previous positive lab tests did not necessarily mean the patients had SARS. To read the complete May 3 SARS Update, click here. Click "More", below, to read more about the headlines.... [The Agonist]
2:57:13 PM # Speak Up [] - See Also: SARS
Canada a step ahead of other countries racing to create a SARS vaccine. Canada is a step or two ahead of other countries racing for the prestige of being first to create a vaccine for SARS, but that advantage is slipping every day the government drags its heels in making significant research funding available Canadian Press May 3 2003 8:42AM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
Esso pumps up Toronto: post-SARS event cuts gas price to 49.9 cents a litre. "A gas feeding frenzy" is how one happy motorist described the scene at a downtown gas station after Imperial Oil slashed its price for regular gasoline to 49.9 cents per litre, doing its bit to fuel positive sentiment in SARS-weary Toronto. Canadian Press May 3 2003 8:42AM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
SARS Sparks Economic Crisis for Chinese Businesses in Toronto.
Imagine if San Francisco were shunned by the world because of a mysterious virus. Picture its Chinatown as a ghost town - a place where once-bustling streets and shops are now deserted.
That’s what has happened to Canada’s largest city since Toronto was besieged by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) almost two months ago AsianWeek.com May 2 2003 11:10PM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
Ottawa budgets $100M for fight against SARS. Toronto Star Online May 2 2003 9:10PM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
Ottawa offers relief for SARS-affected health care workers. Toronto Star Online May 2 2003 9:10PM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
SARS toll on Toronto economy estimated at $700 million. AP via New Jersey Online May 2 2003 8:33PM ET [Moreover - Canada news]
9:42:19 AM # Speak Up [] - See Also: SARS
Alice May Brock. "Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good." [Motivational Quotes of the Day]
9:22:24 AM # Speak Up [] - See Also: Quotations
vitiate: Dictionary.com Word of the Day. vitiate [Dictionary.com Word of the Day]
9:21:08 AM # Speak Up []
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