Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - multi-country outbreak - |
Update on cases and countries5 April 2003 As of today, a cumulative total of 2416 SARS cases and 89 deaths have been reported from 18 countries. This represents an increase of 63 cases and 5 deaths compared with yesterday. The deaths occurred in Hong Kong SAR (3), Malaysia (1), and Singapore (1). The death reported by Malaysia represents the first case reported in that country. New cases were reported in Canada (5), Hong Kong SAR (39), Taiwan, China (2), Singapore (1), the United Kingdom (1), and the United States of America (15). One of the two probable cases reported in Switzerland was removed from the list. |
WHO issues a global alert about cases of atypical pneumonia
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12 March 2003 | GENEVA -- Since mid February, WHO has been actively working to confirm reports of outbreaks of a severe form of pneumonia in Viet Nam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China, and Guangdong province in China. In Viet Nam the outbreak began with a single initial case who was hospitalized for treatment of severe, acute respiratory syndrome of unknown origin. He felt unwell during his journey and fell ill shortly after arrival in Hanoi from Shanghai and Hong Kong SAR, China. Following his admission to the hospital, approximately 20 hospital staff became sick with similar symptoms. The signs and symptoms of the disease in Hanoi include initial flu-like illness (rapid onset of high fever followed by muscle aches, headache and sore throat). These are the most common symptoms. Early laboratory findings may include thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and leucopenia (low white blood cell count). In some, but not all cases, this is followed by bilateral pneumonia, in some cases progressing to acute respiratory distress requiring assisted breathing on a respirator. Some patients are recovering but some patients remain critically ill. Today, the Department of Health Hong Kong SAR has reported on an outbreak of respiratory illness in one of its public hospitals. As of midnight 11 March, 50 health care workers had been screened and 23 of them were found to have febrile illness. They were admitted to the hospital for observation as a precautionary measure. In this group, eight have developed early chest x-ray signs of pneumonia. Their conditions are stable. Three other health care workers self-presented to hospitals with febrile illness and two of them have chest x-ray signs of pneumonia. Investigation by Hong Kong SAR public health authorities is on-going. The Hospital Authority has increased infection control measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the hospital. So far, no link has been found between these cases and the outbreak in Hanoi. In mid February, the Government of China reported that 305 cases of atypical pneumonia, with five deaths, had occurred in Guangdong province. In two cases that died, chlamydia infection was found. Further investigations of the cause of the outbreak is ongoing. Overall the outbreaks in Hanoi and Hong Kong SAR appear to be confined to the hospital environment. Those at highest risk appear to be staff caring for the patients. No link has so far been made between these outbreaks of acute respiratory illness in Hanoi and Hong Kong and the outbreak of `bird flu,` A(H5N1) in Hong Kong SAR reported on 19 February. Further investigations continue and laboratory tests on specimens from Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR are being studied by WHO collaborating centres in Japan and the United States. Until more is known about the cause of these outbreaks, WHO recommends patients with atypical pneumonia who may be related to these outbreaks be isolated with barrier nursing techniques. At the same time, WHO recommends that any suspect cases be reported to national health authorities. WHO is in close contact with relevant national authorities and has also offered epidemiological, laboratory and clinical support. WHO is working with national authorities to ensure appropriate investigation, reporting and containment of these outbreaks.
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Communication Officer |
The following two books are being prepared for publication.
Contents of these books and annotation are shown below.
You can publish Your advertisement in these books. Got profit will be invested in book’s publication. Copies of these books are guaranteed for advertisers.
1. Shevchuk L.T., Pantyley V.A. Geography of Dentistry Health (text-book for students of higher establishments – universities and institutes).
2. Shevchuk L.T., Pantyley V.A. Children’s Dentistry Health: Social-Economical, Geographical and Ecological Aspects (on the Materials of Lviv Region) (monograph).
The statistical report "Health care in Lviv Region in 2000". Interesting figures of 1999 year are viewed. Among them Increase of quantity of the doctors (14155 on 5% on relation to 1990) and medical entities, drugstores (818 - on 90% on relation to 1995), growth of quantity of diseases (2212.5 thousands - 23% on relation to 1990) specially with malignant formations (7072 16% on relation to 1990). There are some positive tendention: decrease children mortality and number of registered abortion. More on www.stat.lviv.ua.
