From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Apr 25 2003 - 22:17:10 MDT
--- Greg Burch <gregburch@gregburch.net> wrote:
>
> My question is this: What are the best strategies for addressing SARS
> in the short, intermediate and long terms?
How paranoid are you? How paranoid do you want to be? I could, for
example, recommend an NBC tested gas mask from Northern Tool &
Equipment Supply for $179 that will protect you against not only nerve
agents like sarin and VX, blister agents like Mustard, but airborne
radioactive dust, anthrax spores and viral agents. Walking around with
it on may make you look wierd, but it will certainly give you a regular
cardiovascular workout. It also works a hell of a lot better than a
cute little hospital mask.
SARS doesn't seem to be THAT airborne, though. Beyond close transfer of
expectorant, touching, directly or indirectly, seem to be the primary
means of communicability, as well as via common plumbing.
Based on this, don't venture to areas of high density, or where public
ideas of personal space are very compact. While American's ideas of
personal space runs to about 36-72 inches, middle easterners and asians
are comfortable with 12-24 inches. This could be a contributing factor
to its spread overseas. Wear gloves, since whatever THEY touch, could
be carrying the virus for at least several minutes afterward..
Get rooms in the top floors of hotels, and don't use public restrooms.
If you HAVE to ride the subway or walk the streets of Hong Kong or
Beijing, though, buy the gas mask.
I also hear that Singapore Airlines is the best trained and disciplined
about identifying SARS infected travelers as well as keeping airliners
clean. Recommended you fly with them.
=====
Mike Lorrey
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
- Gen. John Stark
"Pacifists are Objectively Pro-Fascist." - George Orwell
"Treason doth never Prosper. What is the Reason?
For if it Prosper, none Dare call it Treason..." - Ovid
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