SARS in Toronto!

This stuff is scary for sure. My hubby has a convention in Denver next week...I wish he wouldn't travel during this outbreak...anybody have any info re SARS throught the Denver area/airport?

So far haven't heard of any cases here in the Fort Worth Texas area but with DFW airport here it may not be too long, I know.

One CDC report that ended up in my local nurse newsletter: acute facilities should consider surgical masks on ALL patients with cough, fever and SOB sx to try and control droplets..

'Course I can just hear my new admit COPDrs with URI sx complaining if I try to put a mask on them. If this is airborne we need the HEPA type masks, no? And they are too expensive for the hospital to provide all staff with 'em.... if this thing is airborne it is going to be difficult.

Take care everyone out there and stay safe. (((HUGS))) to all...particularly those in outbreak areas. Ya'll are in my prayers.

Joycean · Apr 12, 2003

(I'm fairly new here) I just wanted all of you to know my prayers are with you. So far we have only 1 suspected case here in Arizona, but a few in the neighboring states. I don't know how I would or will feel being in your situation. Seems like the longer I'm in nursing (going on 20 yrs), the more dangerous it becomes.

sixes · Apr 12, 2003

Good Morning all.

Hope everyone is doing ok. Wendy how are you? Well I hope.

they didn't shrink from visit

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-12-0013.html

SARS hurting tourism is city:Eves

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-12-0014.html

SARS flying In

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-12-0016.html

SARS Spreads

http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-12-0028.html

sixes · Apr 13, 2003

hope everyone is still happy and healthy

lab learns germdata

http://www.canoe.ca/torontonews/ts.ts-04-13-0013.html

asia battles to slow spread of virus

http://ww.canoe.ca/torontonews/ts.ts-04-13-0014.html

3 more dead

http://www.canoe.ca/torontonews/ts.ts-04-13-0015.html

china patient zero

http://www.canoe.ca/torontonews/ts.ts-04-13-0027.html

mattsmom81 · Apr 13, 2003

I'm a little concerned about hearing that patients suspected/exposed to SARS are going home...even with HHC...did I misunderstand this? I mean, can we really trust the general public to understand the situation and behave appropriately with a bug that has infected healthy people in their 40's? Shouldn't we be using supervised quarantine on ALL suspected cases?? Particularly if they suspect this is airborne......

I'm shuddering thinking of the movie with Dustin Hoffman and Rene Russo...'Outbreak'. Scary scary movie. I know we 'mustn't panic' but I also am suspect of the info we are and are not receiving about this bug....

Perhaps I'm over reacting. If so ya'll please set me straight ...LOL!

Little One2 · Apr 13, 2003

In Toronto, there are now fifteen who have passed away from suffering from SARS.

Here are a few stories I have heard:

-there is a guy who was suspected of having SARS, instead of following the order of going home and being under quarantee; he decides to go to work. His coworkers are aware that he did have SARS. The supervisor told him to go home. The police (I believe) came, this guy had to take up a bed in the hospital and be guarded by police because he won't stay home - refused to be quarantee. This same guy said he didn't want to miss a day of work.

A guy from my church works at the same company but on a different shift. Imagine - this at my church could possibly pick up the germs and bring them into the church. Exposing a few hundred people to SARS.

-a guy at my brother's office was off for ten days(at home under quarantine). He returns to work - on the fourteenth day, he contracts SARS.

-someone started showing signs of SARS on the tenth day of quarantine

Makes you wonder if ten days is enough time to be under quarantine.

Patients are now being sent home suspected of being exposed under the condition that they voluntarily remain under quarantine. They provide the patient with masks. It is scary, because the family can easily contract the virus. I was thinking, there should be a building devoted to taking care of SARS patients. In order to contain the virus in one location.

The nurses who work both in the community and hospital were not to work in both places. But now they can return. This increase the risk of transferring SARS into homes if the nurses are not using proper precautions.

JMP · Apr 13, 2003

Hum........I just got home from Toronto- great city.

Lots of "stories" but we really need to be factual at a time like this.

For those interested at good link:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/sars-sras/prof_e.html

Worth taking the time to read.