DverCITY Magazine

April 2003, Vol. 5, No. 4

  U.S. and World News Weekly Multicultural Magazine of the Times and Diverse People promoting cultural and international diversity

World Health Organization (WHO) Health Update on Deadly SARS Virus

5-5-03. New findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the deadly SARS virus can live in human waste for days – four days in diarrhea/two days in urine or feces. Traces of the virus have been found in the waste of patients thought to be virus free and discharged SARS is primarily spread through coughs and sneezes. One theory, that leaky sewage pipes triggered a severe outbreak of 300 people, is now being considered with more validity. The SARS virus survives on chilled plastic surfaces for four days. This suggests that if someone with contaminated hands touched something in the refrigerator it would stay alive for that duration. 

Standard disinfectants like chlorine bleach kill the virus in five minutes. 

Caused by the corona virus, the SARS virus has killed almost 450 people worldwide in around 30 countries and territories and made over 6,700 sick. The corona virus is the cause of common colds and gastrointestinal/respiratory diseases in animals. 

Presently, there is no cure. Up to 10 percent of cases are fatal. 

On Friday, health officials in Beijing were optimistic that the SARS epidemic had reached its height. This is great news considering the strict measures that had to be taken by the city government to keep the SARS virus under control with quarantine. 

SARS first emerged in November 2002 in China.