carpe decorum

Settling in with SARS

• SARS appears to be mutating rather quickly, based on comparisons of the viral structure between cases in southern China and Beijing. Whether this will result in greater or lesser virulence is as yet unknown.
• Cumulative cases: 3,947 reported cumulative cases with 229 deaths.
• The New York Times noted yesterday Hong Kong's outbreak was stabilizing, although the daily death rate from SARS still exceeds the total for all other types of pneumonia.
• Also from the New York Times: Beijing is closing its primary and secondary schools until 7 May. Officially China has reported about 2,158 cases, with the number in Beijing reaching 588.

To put this disease in context: malaria, HIV and tuberculosis kill over 5 million people per year and cause 300 million illnesses. Not of small import is that causes, prevention and treatment are available for the three diseases mentioned here.