# Attention-physicians, Biologists, Epidemiologists, Virologists & Others! Alert! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240 "2003-03-14T02:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/41 "2003-03-17T16:40:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boo Boo Foo \* > \*\*My understanding, and bear in mind that I am by NO MEANS a qualified medical professional, however it’s my understanding that “airosol borne viruses” are traditionally easily killed by strong sunlight - which is why most flus manifest themselves in low light conditions. > > This is not to say that you are 100% safe in a sunny country, merely that the ability to “transfer” such a disease is much harder by many orders of magnitude. > > I wonder, has research ever been done into killing “airosol borne viruses and bacterial microbes” with strong amounts of artificial sunlight - that is, oodles of ultra violet lights etc in hostpitals? \*\* Using UV radiation to steralize surfaces is a common practice in many labs that do tissue culture work. THere are some problems with this. RNA viruses are most easilly destroyed by UV, single stranted DNA should also be pretty vulnerable… assuming of couse that the interactiosn between the DNA strands in double stranded DNA would make it so more energy was required to cause point deletions and strand breaks. Then you have enveloped vs unenveloped viruses. Enveloped viruses have a plasmid membrane surrounding the viral protein core which is another layer of protection to block UV radiation. Bacteria on the other hand, have both a membrane and a thick cell wall and I imagine would be less vulnerable to UV radiation. They are also fully competent organisms with DNA repair mechanisms (Mut S … or Mut L deals with point deletions right?) Some labs run the UV lamps in their hoods overnight to ‘steralize’ the hood of contaminates. Even 16 hrs of a special, powerful UV light doesn’t kill everything in the hood. I highly doubt that a bright sunny day will really make much difference. Especially when you consider an aerosol pathogen. Those virions are going to be covered in mucous most likely, which will provide another layer of protection against UV radiation. The problem is nobody knows what the pathogen is. Yes there are some virii that are unbelievably unstable outside the human body. HIV is one, it has a half life of min outside of an organism. Even keeping viral samples I use in my research on ice when they are out of the -80 (the sample never goes over 4C for more than 30 seconds) I’m luckly if I can remove a sample from the -80 TWICE and still have 90% of the origional infectivity. Basically it’s a crap shoot. The lab I work in DOESN’T use UV lights to steralize anything. I wouldn’t rely on sunlight to help keep me safe if there was a large scale outbreak of this disease near me. I’d abide by CDC recommendations, they’ve got the experience in this matter. One thing. If someone starts selling “air filters to keep your home free of this virus” that are over .05um HEPA filters, they’re scamming you. Virii can range in size from 100-10 nm so a .2um filter stops fungus, mold and bacteria but not viral particles. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/42 "2003-03-17T18:41:27Z")
UPDATE\_\_Scientists Confirm–it ain’t flu or pneumonia–North American Case Detected–UK Case Detected–African Cases Detected–Public Comparisons To 1918 Being Made For the First Time. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2856163.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2856163.stm) It ain’t funny no more, guys… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/43 "2003-03-17T19:20:22Z")
UPDATE\_\_Scientists Confirm–it ain’t flu or pneumonia–North American Case Detected–UK Case Detected–African Cases Detected–Public Comparisons To 1918 Being Made For the First Time. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2856163.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2856163.stm) It ain’t funny no more, guys… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/44 "2003-03-17T19:39:17Z")
UPDATE–Cases emerge in Australia, Switzerland, 8 cases in Canada. [http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993511](http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993511) ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/45 "2003-03-17T21:10:24Z")
Dude, **Bosda** you’re kinda going nuts over this. 1. It’s not flu – which is nice since flu is just about the easiest to transmit virus. 2. We don’t know what it is, nor how it spreads 3. No information has been released specifically dealing with the pathogensity. Yeah yeah it’s some sort of lung infection which doesn’t help a lot. Does it have something to do with disrupting Cl ion transport in the lungs causing a buildup in fluids? Or is it a systemic cytotoxic t-cell reaction to lung tissue. Or is it more of a histamine/inflamation response. All of these things indicate different types of treatment and indicate the serverity of the illness. Are the deaths caused by decreased oxygen content in the blood from constricted airways? – can’t that be treated but increasing the oxygen content the patient is on? 4. The fact that we haven’t heard of a massive outbreak in SouthEast Asia says QUITE a lot. That’s an area with substandard sanitation and medical facilities. Generally speaking, the worse the sanitary conditions are and the lower quality/lower amount of medical treatment available there will be a higher rate of outbreak. Also keep in mind, general health of individuals plays a role in viral spread. North Koreans, suffering from foodshortages for a long time would be, generally speaking, more vunlerable to disease. Than say healthy canadians. 1. The short incubation time is also nice. The faster people develop symptoms the earlier you can isolate them and cut down on the number of people they come into contact with. 2. As it stands there is less than a 1.8% fatality rate. Not too bad considering that most of the deaths come from China, a nation not particularly noted for the highly advanced state of it’s medical field. Consider that you can expect a strong reduction in the number of fatal cases as doctors develop treament protocols for the disease, something which only happens as more and more people are exposed to it. Given the time frame here, unless there is a secondary infection associated with this disease we should see that 1.8% rate drop. 3. There is already evidence that secondary infections from other humans is reasonably difficult. The first outbreak in china died down quite rapidly. It’s still pretty funny. There are no indications it’s rapidly sweeping the globe. With an incubation time as little as 2 days since the reports came out if this was as transmissable as the flu you’d expect 100’s of thousands of people infected world wide. Because each person on the plane would contract it, then when they got off the airplane they’d spread it to almost everyone in the airport then everyone gets it. Once again, it’s the news media totally flipping out over something there simply isn’t enough information avaible yet to determine. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/46 "2003-03-18T13:41:19Z")
_cough_ swine flu _cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/47 "2003-03-19T17:54:34Z")
2 Updates! American child in Vietnam contracts mystery sdisease–no know exposure source. Case unconnected to any known source of exposure. Speculations on an animal vector. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HAN282222](http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HAN282222) Possible identification of organism–mutant _Paramyxovirus_? [http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=0D25E805-3CBD-429E-909BD63932B9F14C&title=Virus%20Related%20to%20Mumps%2C%20Measles%20Could%20Be%20Behind%20Mysterious%20Illness&catOID=45C9C78B-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Asia%20Pacif](http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=0D25E805-3CBD-429E-909BD63932B9F14C&title=Virus%20Related%20to%20Mumps%2C%20Measles%20Could%20Be%20Behind%20Mysterious%20Illness&catOID=45C9C78B-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Asia%20Pacif) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/48 "2003-03-19T18:16:11Z")
Additional 34 cases appear overnight in Hong Kong. [http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html](http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/49 "2003-03-19T18:16:12Z")
Additional 34 cases appear overnight in Hong Kong. [http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html](http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/50 "2003-03-19T18:16:12Z")
Additional 34 cases appear overnight in Hong Kong. [http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html](http://www.iht.com/articles/90300.html) ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/51 "2003-03-19T19:00:02Z")
**Bosda** - I hate to say it, but I think you’re over-reacting just a bit. Large font? Does that convey your meaning any faster or more clearly? I understand that this is the first WHO global warning in 10 years, and I know some people are dying from it. But not most people, even in remote areas of China. I think it’s a little premature to be so alarmist. Wishing you good health, StG ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/52 "2003-03-19T21:13:11Z")
Anyhoo, here’s to hoping my coworker caught this. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/53 "2003-03-19T22:00:36Z")
Here’s latest I’ve seen on this from [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2862991.stm) online: > [@](#): > > The researchers have identified the mystery respiratory illness at the heart of a global health scare as a virus from the paramyxoviridae family, which are responsible for conditions such as mumps and measles. > > More work is needed to establish whether the virus is a new strain and whether it is curable, according to the doctors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Prince of Wales Hospital. > > But a university spokeswoman told BBC News Online that the discovery indicated that the treatment being given to patients suffering from the atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong - the hardest-hit area - was the right kind. > > Scientists at the hospital analysed a speciman taken from a hospital worker who had contracted the illness. Evidence of the same virus was also found in two other hospital workers who developed similar symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/54 "2003-03-20T00:19:25Z")
Paramyxoviridae? Huh. I wouldn’t have guessed that. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/55 "2003-03-20T03:21:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*Paramyxoviridae? Huh. I wouldn’t have guessed that. Interesting. \*\* It sure took me by suprise. ---
**Author:** ![lamntcrstn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@lamntcrstn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lamntcrstn)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/56 "2003-03-20T04:02:59Z")
Captain Trips is on the move. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/57 "2003-03-21T00:00:43Z")
Anything new on this nasty bug? I’ve been following the war all day. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/58 "2003-03-21T00:45:24Z")
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2867055.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2867055.stm) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/59 "2003-03-21T02:35:22Z")
Quick summary: many of the early victims were all on the same floor of a Hong Kong hotel between February 12 and March 2. Other victims have caught the illness from them. If you have reservations for the **Metropole Hotel** in Hong Kong you might not want to stay on the ninth floor. Also, eleven suspected cases identified in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240/60 "2003-03-21T17:17:27Z")
The People’s Republic hides/withholds essential medical data. [http://www.iht.com/articles/90573.html](http://www.iht.com/articles/90573.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-physicians-biologists-epidemiologists-virologists-others-alert/161240.md?page=4)