本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛- "You have to be positive in this world. Why be nervous?"
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Woman may be first area SARS patient
By JOHN MINER, AND PATRICK MALONEY, Free Press Reporters
LISTOWEL -- The SARS outbreak moved a step closer to London yesterday with a woman being treated in Listowel as a suspected case.
It's Southwestern Ontario's first suspected case of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, since the outbreak hit Ontario last month.
Health unit officials said the patient from Wellington County was part of a travel group that vacationed in an area in Asia affected by SARS.
Officials are trying to reach people who travelled with her, said Janice Walters of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit.
"There are 25 contacts that we have information on and we are just in the process of letting all the parties know," she said.
The woman -- who was not publicly identified -- is not a senior and was in stable condition, said Margret Comack, chief executive officer of Listowel Memorial Hospital.
"When we first realized we had a patient with symptoms, we were a bit alarmed. We were surprised to think, here it is," said Comack.
The woman returned from Asia Sunday and was isolated in hospital Monday, Walters said.
SARS is suspected when a patient has a fever above 38 C, respiratory symptoms and either has had close contact with a probable SARS patient or has travelled within 10 days to an affected area.
Officials said yesterday the number of possible and suspected Ontario SARS cases rose to 195 from 190 the previous day.
Comack said the Listowel hospital is well equipped to handle a SARS outbreak.
All needed isolation procedures were taken when the patient arrived, she said.
"The risk to staff, other patients and the community is very low," Comack said.
If the patient's condition deteriorates, she may be transferred to another hospital, she said.
Cliff Nordal, president of St. Joseph's Health Care in London, confirmed the woman would be transferred if needed to St. Joe's Grosvenor Street facility, which has an isolation unit set up for SARS.
Walters said because the woman sought medical attention when she returned, the illness doesn't pose an increased public risk.
Dr. Bhagirath Singh, scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity, agreed.
If proper isolation procedures were followed, the risk of the disease spreading will be low, he said.
But Singh said such cases raise the question whether there should be restrictions on travelling to SARS areas.
"This is a very touchy issue," he said.
Alice Fournier of Listowel said she was surprised to hear of the suspect SARS case, but wasn't worried.
"You have to be positive in this world. Why be nervous?" she said.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Woman may be first area SARS patient
By JOHN MINER, AND PATRICK MALONEY, Free Press Reporters
LISTOWEL -- The SARS outbreak moved a step closer to London yesterday with a woman being treated in Listowel as a suspected case.
It's Southwestern Ontario's first suspected case of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, since the outbreak hit Ontario last month.
Health unit officials said the patient from Wellington County was part of a travel group that vacationed in an area in Asia affected by SARS.
Officials are trying to reach people who travelled with her, said Janice Walters of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit.
"There are 25 contacts that we have information on and we are just in the process of letting all the parties know," she said.
The woman -- who was not publicly identified -- is not a senior and was in stable condition, said Margret Comack, chief executive officer of Listowel Memorial Hospital.
"When we first realized we had a patient with symptoms, we were a bit alarmed. We were surprised to think, here it is," said Comack.
The woman returned from Asia Sunday and was isolated in hospital Monday, Walters said.
SARS is suspected when a patient has a fever above 38 C, respiratory symptoms and either has had close contact with a probable SARS patient or has travelled within 10 days to an affected area.
Officials said yesterday the number of possible and suspected Ontario SARS cases rose to 195 from 190 the previous day.
Comack said the Listowel hospital is well equipped to handle a SARS outbreak.
All needed isolation procedures were taken when the patient arrived, she said.
"The risk to staff, other patients and the community is very low," Comack said.
If the patient's condition deteriorates, she may be transferred to another hospital, she said.
Cliff Nordal, president of St. Joseph's Health Care in London, confirmed the woman would be transferred if needed to St. Joe's Grosvenor Street facility, which has an isolation unit set up for SARS.
Walters said because the woman sought medical attention when she returned, the illness doesn't pose an increased public risk.
Dr. Bhagirath Singh, scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity, agreed.
If proper isolation procedures were followed, the risk of the disease spreading will be low, he said.
But Singh said such cases raise the question whether there should be restrictions on travelling to SARS areas.
"This is a very touchy issue," he said.
Alice Fournier of Listowel said she was surprised to hear of the suspect SARS case, but wasn't worried.
"You have to be positive in this world. Why be nervous?" she said.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net