Sars Disease example essay topic

Many people may wonder what all the hype is about this SARS disease that everyone is talking about. In simple terms, SARS is the first new deadly disease in years that can easily pass from one person to another without even knowing that this diseases exists. SARS, short for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a disease that broke out in some areas of China in early 2003. The actual cause of SARS is still uncertain, but is believed to have come from a member of the Coronavirus family. It possibly jumped from animals to humans. So far this disease has killed more than 200 people in just China, Hong Kong, Canada, and Singapore.

The number of cases that are being discovered is multiplying rapidly and the numbers will soon be hard to keep track of. With all this hype, SARS is not as lethal as you may fear. The death rate was at 3.7% in April and that is not as bad as the West Nile virus that had a death rate of 6.7%. On top of that, the flu kills 36,000 people a year in just the U.S. The symptoms of SARS are similar to a common cold or flu, starting in the first 2-10 days with a fever of 100.4 or higher, along with a chill with shivering, headaches, muscle pains, and general lethargy. Another possible occurrence would be diarrhea. Then about 3-7 days later, the symptoms will progress to shortness of breath and an increasing, usually dry, cough.

Chest X-rays will show that it might be pneumonia and your lungs will be inflamed. Some patients may have trouble getting oxygen into their blood. The amount of people who die from SARS is not yet clear but it is known that the older you are, the chances will be worsened. An example of a patient who lived these symptoms was Dr. Henry Lik yuen Chan. At the age of 34, he contracted the illness in the Hong Kong hospital where he works. The first few days of his illness were a blur.

He didn't remember much about it except that he had high fevers and was racked with coughs. Whenever he took a shower, it felt like he was running a marathon. One of his co-workers cried when she heard his wheezing gasp for breath when she called to check up on him. On the 10th day, X-rays showed fluid in his lungs, and Chan thought he was now ready to be put on his death bed. Six weeks later, he is 10 pounds lighter, but has recovered. Dr. Chan was a lucky patient.

Passing SARS is extremely simple. You can get it by contact with someone who has it or getting coughed on. The virus is known to be able to live outside of the body for up to ten days. Thus, you are able to obtain it by coming into contact with objects that it might be on. Another way to get SARS but not certain, would be from hospitals that have patients that are being treated for SARS. They think, yet it is to be proven, you may be able to receive it through air ducts and vents in the hospital.

SARS is affecting many people around the world. Even if not infected by the virus, people still fear it. People are afraid to go to a country that has people that are infected with the virus. Some places won't even allow you to enter if you are coming from a place that has the infection even though you are not infected. One example that shows the effects of SARS on someone who doesn't even have it involves a 16-year-old soccer player that lives in Toronto. Katie Ni zio was on a traveling soccer team and they were booked to play in Pennsylvania.

Her hopes were to show off her skills and win a scholarship to college. But they were crushed. They were no longer welcome because they were coming from a place that is known for having SARS. SARS is not directly a environmental issue where it is involving trees or actual nature. It is an issue that health related and can harm the whole population. Our environment consists of many things.

One of the main parts to our environment is us humans. Without humans, the environment would probably not exist. Having SARS invading the whole population would cause a huge divot in the population or even birthrates. Containing SARS is on the question of many minds. The human race environment will soon be won over by SARS if it is not contained. So it is not directly connected to the environmental issue of nature, meaning tree's and the ocean, but the human race.

You could say SARS is an enemy to all that is winning. People who live in countries with SARS do not live their normal lives anymore. They are not able to live that normal life that we all want to live. They aren't able to wake up in the morning and drive to work and work in their office. Everything they do, they must do it with precautions. When they wake up, they must think about what is going to happen throughout that day.

Especially when they must use a public restroom. They must ask the question, "is it safe enough for me to use, or is it contaminated?" It's hard for them to do regular grocery shopping. Some people go around wearing gloves and face mask to protect themselves. Those are the people who can't live a normal life. On the other hand, there are the people who live in places like we do where we fear SARS, but don't have to worry as much as they do about getting infected. We are lucky that our lifestyle has not yet been affected by this virus that is feared by everyone.

The best way to protect yourself would be to keep sanitary by washing your hands habitually whenever you are out. Remember, it may start off as if you have a cold, but then increase. Make sure you also take regular visits to your doctor to make sure you are not infected when sick..