What science is learning from SARS
Medical scientists are now looking at the clinical features of SARS and the way infectious disease is handled in the population.

Infection with the SARS virus leads to critical illness in as many as one-quarter of patients. These people typically require prolonged treatment with respirators. Nearly half of those that do need mechanical breathing help die of the infection. In addition to serious lung damage, other deadly complications can include multiple organ failure, blood clots and shock resulting from blood infection.

It is not known why a third of the critically ill also had type 2 diabetes, or why the infection in Canada remained confined to hospitals.
It has changed the way medical personnel handle infectious cases.

In Toronto, for example, the ferocity of the infection and its rapid spread in hospitals forced intensive care units to recast the way health workers deal with patients suspected of having the virus.

No longer do SARS patients in that country receive medication and oxygen through aerosolizing masks, unless they are in pressurized rooms that prevent cough droplets from escaping. Doctors and nurses now enter patient rooms clad from head to toe in protective gear, masks, gowns, goggles and gloves.

“You can’t just walk in” to a room with a SARS patient, says Detsky. “You need much better protection.”

There is still no definitive diagnosistic test or treatment.

HIV/AIDS
Drug resistant HIV/AIDS is growing at an alarming rate around the world. With 42 million known cases, 90 percent do not have access to drugs. Drug resistant TB is the major killer of HIV infected patients.

Europe
From Finland to Portugal, Europeans are struggling through a heat wave that is damaging crops, livestock and water levels. Violent storms in western France have killed three people and injured more than 60.

Dribs and Drabs
My families move is complete, they are settling into their new location tonight and I’m surprised. It’s been stressful and we anticipated that. What surprises me is that we managed to treat each other gently and carefully and respect boundaries. Families being what they are, I anticipated irritability and misunderstanding. Huh. Maybe we are growing up.
They are managing a small tourist site on waterfront. It’s a beautiful piece of property with five cottages for rental, a bit tired looking, but nothing they can’t tackle. It suits them to a “T” and I’m genuinely happy for them.
I’ve been babysitting the betta fish the last few days, and I’ll be glad when it makes the move too. :^)