SARS on CNN 8:30pm 4/22

Peeps Mcarthur · Apr 23, 2003

Posted by Oramar

I was wondering if weak link could be a fellow worker that might be infectious without being symptomatic. They are using the same bathrooms as the rest of the staff and no one knows for sure who is contageous until they are really, really sick.

Very good point Oramar.

We all know those people that think handwashing is optional, or it is not important to follow a certain procedure when doing it. :devil: While they're asymptomatic, it could be traveling mass transit.

I think enough patients of the "typhoid Mary" would be infected as to cause a link to them though.

toronto rn · Apr 23, 2003

I really don't think that there are any asymptomatic carriers, although that was typhoid mary wasn't it!, So far all the potential and suspect SARS victims can be traced back to the initial outbreak in some way- all but one. The people have all had contact with someone exibiting symptoms or exposed to someone who had contact with someone ect ect. The virus is still contained primarily within the medical setting, no reports of scattered cases with no contact arising yet, unlike China.

The staff are all screened before even entering the hospital- temperatures taken, symptoms report asked and questionaire re contacts and other hospitals you may have been in. Several staff have been quarantined as a result of screening failure. Although most times it is just a cold or other illness. But the fearful part is indeed not knowing if someone is contagious, We have had several patients who initially didn't appear to be SARS but later proved to be.

-jt · Apr 24, 2003

4/21/03

NYS Nurses Association -

Nursing Practice Information: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease that healthcare officials believe is caused by a new strain of coronavirus, a virus responsible for such upper respiratory illnesses as the common cold. Most individuals who have been affected by SARS have experienced a rapidly developing pneumonia. About 10 percent have required mechanical ventilation, and nearly 4 percent have died.

Although SARS appears to be well contained in the United States to date, the New York State Department of Health has just issued a second update. Additional information on SARS can be found online at the Centers for Disease Control:

see NYS Department of Health SARS Update and link to Centers for Disease Control at:

http://www.nysna.org/programs/nps/sars_update.htm

###

oramar · Apr 24, 2003

Dear toronto rn, I based what I said about transmission via bathroom use on the case in Hong Kong. It is said that a person used a bathroom twice in one apartment complex and everyone in the complex that used the bathroom came down with it even though most had never met him.

debbyed · Apr 24, 2003

First case in Baltimore probably not SARS...Second case however probably is. A doctor who was in Toronto and flew home (2 or 3 different planes) knowing he was ill. Even went into work the next day and was sent home. Classic case of denial.

Peeps Mcarthur · Apr 24, 2003

Excellent JT!

Thanks for the link.

The symptom of 'dry cough' is interesting. This mutation attacks the first line of defense right from the start.

I couldn't get into the CDC site. I imagine there are more than a few people on-line to the server there.

Peeps Mcarthur · Apr 24, 2003

Even went into work the next day and was sent home. Classic case of denial.

I'm sure that a noticeble percentage of the known healthcare worker risk is due to denial, by both the employee and their direct supervisor.

Everyone should carry a mask and gloves and don them at the first symptom, wherever they might be and consider it SARS until shown otherwise.

Employees of hospitals have access to these items which the Damage Control administrators should be strongly encouraging.