" Is SARS Becoming a Global Threat?" 

By Jose Reyes 4/10/03                                                                                                  

            On March 28, in San Jose, California 125 passengers and a 14 crewmembers on an American Airlines flight from Japan were asked to remain on board. There were 3 passengers suspect of having SARS, 2 women 70 and 50, and a 74 year old man. All test proved negative for SARS, all passengers and crewmembers were released. These precautions by the CDC and the WHO, along with the Airlines are the harsh realities of this powerful virus. The rapid spread suggests this virus might be airborne and there is also evidence that the virus can survive on inanimate surfaces for 2 to 3 hours. As of now, 3.5% of the people infected have died, the rest recover usually within 7 days. 

        The CDC and the WHO are 90% sure its from the coronavirus family. Their crown-like appearance under magnification (Picture Above) explains their name of choice. Scientists are having difficulties growing it in the laboratory cultures. Tests on a variety of mammals and birds proved the virus caused cold-like symptoms and intestinal upset. The common cold actually falls under this category of viruses, which explains its flu-like symptoms. 

         As of today, March 10, 2003 there have been 2,722 cases and 106 deaths, in 18 countries. United States is reporting 166 people infected. There are no deaths reported in 30 states affected. To control the spread of SARS, quarantine officials are meeting planes returning directly or indirectly from the primarily infected areas (Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong). On April 4th, President Bush gave health officials authority to quarantine Americans sick. His executive order adds SARS to the list of diseases for which health authorities to involuntarily hold Americans. It has been 2 decades since this act of quarantine was put into affect. Meanwhile, in China, officials issued an apology for not doing a better job of informing there citizens and the rest of the World of SARS. 

          Researchers are getting on the way to produce a vaccine at the NIA(National Institutes of Health) and they are also trying to interest pharmaceutical companies, so they can get involved also. In Hong Kong, clinical evidence suggest that an antiviral vaccine named ICN's Ribavirin, has showed promise where 90% of the infected have recovered completely. One doctor has reported treating patients with serum taken from other SARS patients who have recovered. He figured these patients had developed the antibodies to defend against this new strain Coronavirus. It's strange and puzzling that SARS is so contagious and so powerful, but 90% of the victims recover completely. I think now that it has been identified, prevention would be the main objective for the CDC and the WHO, to educate the world of SARS like they failed with the AIDS virus.

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