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Fang
Kwong
Chuen
COOPERATINGTO COMBAT
THE EPIDEMIC OFTHE
CENTURY. ATHOROUGH
DISCUSSION
Severe
atypical
respiratory
syndrome
(SARS)
is
caused
by
a
new
strain of coronavirus -
a
"tricky virus"
infecting thousands
in
Hong
Kong
alone.The Hong
Kong
University (HKU)
workers identified the virus soon after
the outbreak.
Found
in animals,
the
coronavirus causes mild common cold
or
llu
in humans but
it
has
mutated
through
repeated
transmissions
and
SARS
results as
humans lack
any
antibody.
The virus
spreads
by
droplets and
body
fluids; on
dry
surfaces outside
the
body,
it
lives for 3
hours. Auto-immune phenomenon
is
responsible for self destruction
of
the
lungs;
treatment is by Ribovirin
and
steroids.
Apart from
masks, hands are
cleaned
thoroughly to avoid
spread
to
the eyes, nose and mouth. Even
part
of the genetic code had been revealed
by Canadian and Hong Kong scientists
and rapid diagnostic
methods
are
becoming available
- an
extraordinary
achievement according
to
WHO.
Chlamydia found in China
is
likely to
be
a
secondary infection. Lots
of
suggestions had been proposed
for
the
very dramatic outbreak
at
Amoy
Gardens,
including
the possibility
of
workers urinating across the road
but
the final answer seems to be related
to
sewerage
pipe leakage.
The
HKU had
also
produced
a
rapid diagnostic
method
by
obtaining
post-nasal
aspirations. Recently
the
Hong
Kong
Government had started to check body
temperature
at
the immigration controls;
all SARS family members would
also
be quarantined
for
10
days.
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