I'm sure you heard about this on the news? A new strain of virus similar to the common cold has killed 57 out of 1600 people in Asia. It has no cure, is airborn and can spread to 30-40 people from one person. Apparently It's called SARS. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It is basically a killer Flu.

Aitchoooo!!! :D

Yeah I have heard about it - dwarfed by the news of the war.

I have to wonder whether it is man made? I mean what a more effective way to solve a population crisis than a seemingly innocent fluke in nature???

I think you will agree that there are various parts of Asia - not only with a population problem - but a poverty problem too.

Moon Maiden

I'd imagine if it is manmade then it's to kill other people, not themselves - no different to any other biological weapon, except that this one's escaped (or been deliberately distributed). The Chinese government is so secretive it's doubtful they'd admit to an accident at somewhere developing biological weapons, but I doubt even they'd go about killing their own people, especially with something seemingly uncontrollable.

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

Yeah I have heard about it - dwarfed by the news of the war.

I have to wonder whether it is man made? I mean what a more effective way to solve a population crisis than a seemingly innocent fluke in nature???

I think you will agree that there are various parts of Asia - not only with a population problem - but a poverty problem too.

Moon Maiden

Got any more conspiracy theories? :)

You doubt the chinese would kill it's own people???????? They already restricted families to one child - they recognise they have a population issue and they have more than the technology to do it. Also are the chinese known for messing when something needs sorting.

Anyways - there is the high possibility the the US government could have had it manufactured - Chinese relations are not that great really are they?

Conspiracy theories - I dunno. I am a very suspicious person. :twisted:

Moon Maiden

Come on then, spit them out....I am interested in peoples conspiract theories!!

I am too - I'm looking forward to hearing the one that's more preposterous than distributing a killer cold for population control purposes. Come on, Moon Maiden, there needs to be more proof than the suspicions of a 'very suspicious person' before such an idea can be taken seriously, and that's even taking into account the bizarre and unpleasant situations China and it's people find themselves in because of their overpopulation problems.

Why do I have to prove all of my comments now? Am I not allowed idle speculation at all?

For me personally, in my twisted little head it makes sense. If you don't then don't get your knickers in a twist about it.

Moon Maiden

When will Airlines Open their minds to the fact that Diseases that appear to be spread by Air travellers could be because the air in aircraft is re-circulated. There are worse things on Airplanes than a smoker. Air conditioning systems are known to be a major sources of resistant germs and virus's, yet on planes they are sealed systems - - because of cost of course.

It's actually quite scary the things you can pick up from dirty air-con units. Whenever you walk into a supermarket and you get warm air wafting down at you from above the door you could pick up all sorts of nasty diseases if the filter hasn't been recently cleaned. I try and hold my breath whenever I walk through the door, I may be paranoid, but it keeps me healthy!

Better keep quiet about it - - they may be the first wave of the new suicide fanatics sent to pollute the west - - or am I giving hints to Bin Laden? - - - A bit like "Saigon rose" in Viet Nam.

That mayor of Toronto was out of order in saying it was under control and verbally attacking World Health Organization for something he doesn't have a single clue about.

There are two thousand reported infections in China and I do not believe this is anywhere near the true figure. The infection rate is spreading in a pyramid like scale and china is one of the worst places it could happen.

I believe the infection is out of control and until something as drastic as forcing people to stay in their homes for 12+ days to stop it spreading is probably the only way to cut it out, unless someone find a cure.

I believe our government is taking a calm view of this to prevent panic, but I think they have the potential of messing this one up as badly as they did with the foot and mouth.

Let hope someone finds a cure before this thing seriously gets out of control.

I believe there is a panorama style program on Channel 4 on Monday evening, 9pm? A must see and they will give factual information of just how bad this is.

I am inclined to agree with Moon Maiden about the Population Control Theory. As for the Chinese not killing their own people, surely we all remember seeing the picture of the baby thrown in the gutter because the family had already got one child. People were just walking past this newborn corpse as if it wasn't there!

This is a perfectly natural phenomenon,just another form of common cold,no need to get paranoid about it this virus is mutating and changing as it has done for aeon's of time.

There doesn't have to be a conspiracy just because of a mutation,this is the kind of thing that the media indulges in, just to sell more newspaper's.

No one seriously believes that a government would deliberately introduce a killer virus to control the population. DO THEY? :( :( :(

Besides, a biological weapon which only kills 4% of its victims is hardly efficient, is it? There are more than 6 billion people on the planet. a little over 300 have died of SARS. That's, what, 0.00005%? Back to the drawing board...

Anyone heard the news that SARS is in Hallamshire hospital. Just about everyone in Wombwell has heard about it......why nothing here??

Moon Maiden

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

Anyone heard the news that SARS is in Hallamshire hospital. Just about everyone in Wombwell has heard about it......why nothing here??

Moon Maiden

what a case? i heard they were developing a cure in a sheffield hospital

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

Anyone heard the news that SARS is in Hallamshire hospital. Just about everyone in Wombwell has heard about it......why nothing here??

Moon Maiden

I read that this case turned out not to be SARS in the end.

The story I have heard which was only on the radio news the day before yesterday was that there was a case of SARS in the hospital. The man is allegedly in quarantine now.

Of course they could have confirmed it was not SARS since, but I haven't heard anything about that - just the reported case.

Moon Maiden

I heard it on the local radio since then, that it was not SARS, they did suspect it at first, but it wasn't it.

Okay now two women and a male in Hallamshire??

Moon Maiden

Originally posted by "Moon Maiden"

Okay now two women and a male in Hallamshire??

Moon Maiden

I not heard about this. Did it turn out to be SARS or not?

Do you think the Government take things like this serious? I think our Government will not doing take appropriate action on anything until they are forced to. They have a habit of acting far too late. Remember the likes of Foot & Mouth, CJD/Mad Cow etc.

what next, chicken flu can kill us :gag: