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CNN Live At Daybreak
Renewed Concern Over SARS
Aired January 12, 2004 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In China, a man is hospitalized in Guangdong Province with SARS like symptoms. China's health ministry has not, however, officially listed the patient as a suspect case of the disease.
So far this year, China has listed only one confirmed case and one suspected case, both in Guangdong Province.
So, it's not another epidemic, but there is renewed concern over SARS this morning.
Our Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here.
So these few possible cases some in China.
Do we need to worry?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do need to worry. We need to be concerned, but don't panic. As you said, the Chinese government has confirmed its first case of SARS. This is a 32-year-old television producer.
Now, the good news is medically speaking he's doing well and has been discharged from the hospital. The source of the infection is still unclear and health officials are taking a close look at the apartment complex where he lives, looking at the living quarters, the garbage facilities, the water system, trying to find out how this man could have contracted the SARS virus.
There's also another suspected case, a 20-year-old waitress who worked in a restaurant that served wild game, including civet cats. Another possible SARS suspect case, a 35-year-old man who supposedly does not work in a job that would involve handling wild animals.
So far there's been no sign of any transmission to other people. These patients are being monitored very closely. They're in isolation. The health officials in China do not want a repeat of last year. Remember, this is where SARS started back in November of 2002 and China was hardest hit because they didn't isolate these patients properly.
COSTELLO: Oh, I know, and there was a fear here that people could get SARS from people traveling from China.
FRYHOFER: A real fear. A real threat.
COSTELLO: Oh, talk about, more about these civet cats. I mean it's hard to, it's hard to take this early in the morning, that people could actually eat cats. But they do in China.
FRYHOFER: Well, they're considered a delicacy there, just like we eat chickens. You know, they like these civet cats. But there's concern that these civet cats could carry the infection and then pass it on to humans. It's not proven, it's only theoretical. But the Chinese government has ordered the death of 10 -- of thousands of these civet cats. They're now in the midst of a massive cleanup. They've actually laid out tons of grain laced with poison, trying to kill roaches, mice and rats.
COSTELLO: Oh, I can't look at that for very long.
What does the CDC case -- I mean is there any travel warnings issued or anything like that?
FRYHOFER: Well, so far no travel alerts, no health warnings. The CDC wants doctors to think about SARS in patients that have pneumonia. And, in fact, my hospital actually issued a bulletin to all the doctors reminding us that there has been a SARS case in China and if you have any patient -- if we have any patients with pneumonia to ask them about their travel history, particularly any travel within the last 10 days to a SARS affected region.
But, again, we've talked about respiratory hygiene. This will help prevent SARS, flu anything, you know, using those Kleenexes, washing your hands.
COSTELLO: Washing your hands.
FRYHOFER: Very good. You're learning, Carol. And, of course, if you go to the doctor or an emergency room and you're coughing, ask for a mask so you won't spread infection to others.
COSTELLO: Good idea and very thoughtful, too.
Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 12, 2004 - 06:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In China, a man is hospitalized in Guangdong Province with SARS like symptoms. China's health ministry has not, however, officially listed the patient as a suspect case of the disease.
So far this year, China has listed only one confirmed case and one suspected case, both in Guangdong Province.
So, it's not another epidemic, but there is renewed concern over SARS this morning.
Our Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here.
So these few possible cases some in China.
Do we need to worry?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do need to worry. We need to be concerned, but don't panic. As you said, the Chinese government has confirmed its first case of SARS. This is a 32-year-old television producer.
Now, the good news is medically speaking he's doing well and has been discharged from the hospital. The source of the infection is still unclear and health officials are taking a close look at the apartment complex where he lives, looking at the living quarters, the garbage facilities, the water system, trying to find out how this man could have contracted the SARS virus.
There's also another suspected case, a 20-year-old waitress who worked in a restaurant that served wild game, including civet cats. Another possible SARS suspect case, a 35-year-old man who supposedly does not work in a job that would involve handling wild animals.
So far there's been no sign of any transmission to other people. These patients are being monitored very closely. They're in isolation. The health officials in China do not want a repeat of last year. Remember, this is where SARS started back in November of 2002 and China was hardest hit because they didn't isolate these patients properly.
COSTELLO: Oh, I know, and there was a fear here that people could get SARS from people traveling from China.
FRYHOFER: A real fear. A real threat.
COSTELLO: Oh, talk about, more about these civet cats. I mean it's hard to, it's hard to take this early in the morning, that people could actually eat cats. But they do in China.
FRYHOFER: Well, they're considered a delicacy there, just like we eat chickens. You know, they like these civet cats. But there's concern that these civet cats could carry the infection and then pass it on to humans. It's not proven, it's only theoretical. But the Chinese government has ordered the death of 10 -- of thousands of these civet cats. They're now in the midst of a massive cleanup. They've actually laid out tons of grain laced with poison, trying to kill roaches, mice and rats.
COSTELLO: Oh, I can't look at that for very long.
What does the CDC case -- I mean is there any travel warnings issued or anything like that?
FRYHOFER: Well, so far no travel alerts, no health warnings. The CDC wants doctors to think about SARS in patients that have pneumonia. And, in fact, my hospital actually issued a bulletin to all the doctors reminding us that there has been a SARS case in China and if you have any patient -- if we have any patients with pneumonia to ask them about their travel history, particularly any travel within the last 10 days to a SARS affected region.
But, again, we've talked about respiratory hygiene. This will help prevent SARS, flu anything, you know, using those Kleenexes, washing your hands.
COSTELLO: Washing your hands.
FRYHOFER: Very good. You're learning, Carol. And, of course, if you go to the doctor or an emergency room and you're coughing, ask for a mask so you won't spread infection to others.
COSTELLO: Good idea and very thoughtful, too.
Thank you, Dr. Sandy.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
