Bloomington resident faces SARS fears on trip

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the highly contagious disease with a fatality rate of three to five percent, has spread rapidly throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States in a matter of weeks.\nSARS is even affecting Bloomington residents. \nLongtime Bloomington resident Larry Thibos returned home from Hong Kong this past Saturday. He and his wife were visiting the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and during their stay, "things changed so rapidly," Thibos said. \n"We left on Saturday morning and at that point, there was great panic," he said. "People knew what was going on. They wore surgical masks, closed the schools." \nHong Kong's government started a campaign for public education, Thibos said. \n"We were in a museum and someone came over the intercom to give a sort of pep talk," Thibos said. "The importance of good hygiene, washing your hands after visiting public places." \nThibos had no problems returning to the United States. He had expected an exam of some sort, but all he received was a printed information card. He said customs officials were very relaxed. \nInternational students studying at IU are also affected by SARS. Their families remain at home, in some cases, under quarantine orders. Singapore has issued quarantine for more than 740 people and has closed its elementary, junior, and secondary schools. \nPresident of the Singapore Student Association Sean Liu said that in spite of the outbreak, he is still definitely going home. \n"Life goes on," he said. "The medical facilities in Singapore are top notch." \nLiu does not know anyone with SARS, nor are his family members under quarantine, suggesting SARS has been well-controlled since the outbreak became known. \nWHO Executive Director of Communicable Diseases Dr. David Heymann said in a press briefing at the Palais des Nations on Tuesday March 25, that, "the global containment exercise has been successful to date." According to their information, no new outbreaks were present in the countries the WHO had helped to contain. \nStill, a chance remains SARS could come to Bloomington, a city with a fair amount of international traffic. The incubation period is two to seven days, which allows anyone who possibly came in contact with SARS a likely carrier unless they pass the seven day test. Larry Thibos and his wife remain on a "self-imposed quarantine" until this Saturday, when they will have cleared the seven day incubation period. \n"So far so good," he said. \nIf SARS does occur in Bloomington, the IU Health Center and the Monroe County Health Department assures it has facilities equipped to handle the disease. \n"We have a standing program for handling infectious diseases," Dr. Robert Schmidt, Administrator of the Monroe County Health Department said. "There are established protocols we follow." \nAnne Reese, Director of Health and Wellness Education, said the Health Center is prepared to handle possible cases of SARS. The building, located on Jordan Avenue, has a special room made for the containment and treatment of infectious diseases. \n"Procedures are in place for referral to Bloomington Hospital if the individual has the symptoms of suspected SARS," Anne Reese said. \nThe disease has only proved to be transmitted through contact, but head of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Julie Gerberding warned, "Corona virus [a named cause of the virus] can survive in the environment for up to two to three hours and so it's possible that a contaminated object could serve as a vehicle for transfer to someone else." \nAt this time, antiviral medications and steroids are being used to treat the disease. If you exhibit symptoms of SARS, you should seek medical attention immediately.