SARS is getting worse not better.

[Dinner]

CNN is reporting that SARS is getting worse in much of east Asia while the Chinese government continues to play games with the crisis. Officially the Chinese claim the number of new infections is on the decline but a closer look shows the Chinese have just redefined the definition of SARS to exclude a people who are likely infected with the desiese.

When will the communists stop playing word games? Don't these officials know that it was their dilly-dallying at the beginning of the crisis which allowed things to spiral out of control? If they had attacked the problem head on the way the Communist Vietnamese had (irony isn't it?) then the desiese would just be a shadow of what it is now.

Please discuss.

[ranskaldan]

Re: SARS is getting worse not better.

Originally posted by Oerdin
CNN is reporting that SARS is getting worse in much of east Asia while the Chinese government continues to play games with the crisis. Officially the Chinese claim the number of new infections is on the decline but a closer look shows the Chinese have just redefined the definition of SARS to exclude a people who are likely infected with the desiese.

When will the communists stop playing word games? Don't these officials know that it was their dilly-dallying at the beginning of the crisis which allowed things to spiral out of control? If they had attacked the problem head on the way the Communist Vietnamese had (irony isn't it?) then the desiese would just be a shadow of what it is now.

Please discuss.

Considering that in late April the US govt similarly adjusted their definition of exactly what a "probable" SARS case is which brought the number of cases in the US down from 200 to 40, I hardly call this playing games.

Games are over. The Chinese government is propagandizing this as a war at home, and I'm sure you've heard about the draconian measures in place to keep the fight going. If you call this "dilly-dallying" then I don't know what serious work is.

[Giancarlo]

We could of seen this not reach such proportions if the Chinese government took steps in the first place. The Chinese government was kicked in the behind for not doing anything at first and practically ignoring it. But they managed to get on their feet.

The virus is controlled everywhere except Taiwan. Taiwan having better infrastructure than mainland China will be abled to put the disease under caps in due time.

[Dinner]

Get your facts straight. From the BBC numbers of dead by country:

Mainland China: 289
Hong Kong: 251
Taiwan: 40
Singapore: 28
Canada: 23

Knowing SARS kills around 4%-5% if the US had the number of infections you claim then we would expect to see around a dozen dead people. We don't so your numbers must be in error.

[Dinner]

Pervious reports have said the government had officially implaced quarentines in infected areas but reporters have showing videos of migrant workers going in and out of those areas at their pleasure. I'm not questioning the offical policy what I, and may others, are questioning is the governments determination to see those policies carried out.

[Giancarlo]

Yes, if China was more competent in the beginning those numbers would not be so high. You have to look at number of infected daily, not the number in total dead. However tragic China did not do enough in the beginning however is bringing the disease under control.

Currently, Taiwan actually holds the largest amount infected daily.

[PLATO]

Isn't Sava's mom working on SARS? Sava, What's up??

[ranskaldan]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Get your facts straight. From the BBC numbers of dead by country:

Mainland China: 289
Hong Kong: 251
Taiwan: 40
Singapore: 28
Canada: 23

Knowing SARS kills around 4%-5% if the US had the number of infections you claim then we would expect to see around a dozen dead people. We don't so your numbers must be in error.

I wasn't saying that the US was playing games - I was saying that your argument about China playing games is invalid unless you also admit that the US was doing the same thing in late April.

[ranskaldan]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Pervious reports have said the government had officially implaced quarentines in infected areas but reporters have showing videos of migrant workers going in and out of those areas at their pleasure. I'm not questioning the offical policy what I, and may others, are questioning is the governments determination to see those policies carried out.

Infected areas?

If you're talking about smaller locations like universities or hospitals, then those quarantines are very strict - and I think you know what strict means. If you're talking about larger locations like entire neighbourhoods or cities, then unfortunately it is impossible to impose any sort of quarantine on such areas.

[Dinner]

Now the Chinese government has alway been big on censorship of the press, but, the recent expansion of censorship to internet chat rooms and any web sites dealing with SARS is some what worrying. I mean why on Earth censor information about a illness unless you are trying to hide how screwed up and ineffective your actions are?

Here is a BBC article about Chinese censorship in general as well as the recent expansion to include the world SARS on internet chatrooms and search engines.

[Kuciwalker]

I'm not defending china here, I'd just like to point out an answer to that question: governments have the collective intelligence of a squeegy.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by skywalker
I'm not defending china here, I'd just like to point out an answer to that question: governments have the collective intelligence of a squeegy.

True, but some governments have smaller squeegies then others.

[War4ever]

this all surprises you b/c ???????

[Sava]

Originally posted by PLATO1003
Isn't Sava's mom working on SARS? Sava, What's up??

Her company is working with other entities and agencies on a vaccine. She's not directly involved because she's the director of sales... but I get tidbits of news every now and then.

[Urban Ranger]

Re: SARS is getting worse not better.

Originally posted by Oerdin
CNN is reporting that SARS is getting worse in much of east Asia while the Chinese government continues to play games with the crisis.

1. Why did you link to the BBC when you said "CNN is reporting..."?

2. Worse is much of East Asia? This is rubbish. From the linked article:

Epidemiologists from 16 Sars-hit regions agreed that most of the world's outbreaks are coming under control - although difficult struggles remain, especially in mainland China and Taiwan.

Fearmongering