X-Message-Number: 21726 Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 12:21:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Christine Gaspar <> Subject: regarding WHO update --0-1644162645-1052421666=:33683 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Now for an update from my corner of the world.I have been involved directly in the battle against SARS since the week of March 5th, 2003. That is already 8 weeks of working in an N95 mask, goggles, gown, gloves and at times face shield to boot. As many of you know, it is hard enough going one hour in such equipment. What I have to report is good though. I am not sick, my family and friends have remained SARS free, and no one in my department has come down with the increasingly deadly disease. In fact, crossed fingers aside, numbers of patients showing up at our door under the suspicion of SARS is decreasing. I concede that I am conducting a rather un-scientific study based on my own anecdotal experiences, but it seems like it is safe to say that this MIGHT be going away.It is not over yet, though. This particular outbreak in Toronto started by the infection and transmission of one family. Even if we eradicate all cases of SARS in Canada, it still exists in other parts of the world, and air travel to and from these countries continues. It potentially could start all over again with just one more infected person, if we let our guard down.I do not know what this means. I do not know if I will be required to don this equipment for the rest of my career, or not. I am not sure if I will feel entirely safe when the day comes that our hospitals stand down their public emergency. When will it be really safe to stop wearing a mask in a hospital again? I have no idea.Now we have a new battle to fight...West Nile virus..Oh joy!Christine Gaspar --0-1644162645-1052421666=:33683 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21726