Thompson:
SARS could cause U.S. deaths next flu season
BRUSSELS
(AP) — The SARS virus likely will reappear in the United States
and Europe next flu season and cause some deaths, the U.S.
health and human services secretary said Tuesday.
Thompson:
'I do not think SARS is going to go away.' European Commission
via AP
Tommy
Thompson, who was in Brussels to meet European Union officials,
said despite best efforts to contain severe acute respiratory
syndrome, he expected it to cause deaths in areas that so
far are unaffected.
"I am not confident at all. ... I do not think SARS is going
to go away," Thompson said. "Even though it may level off
now it could come back in the fall and then you can, I think,
anticipate that you will have deaths in all the continents.
"The virus knows no borders whatsoever."
More than 7,800 people worldwide have been infected — mostly
in Asia — since the disease first surfaced in southern China
in November. At least 662 people have died.
The United States has reported 67 cases to the World Health
Organization but no fatalities.
About 36 cases have been reported in Europe, with no fatalities.
Later Tuesday, a WHO spokeswoman said it was too early to
tell whether SARS was a seasonal virus.
"We have only seen SARS for a couple of months and it is too
early to know if it will establish a seasonal pattern," Maria
Cheng said. "There is no evidence to tell one way or the other."
A SARS vaccine has not yet been developed.
Thompson, whose department oversees the Atlanta-based Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, said he had allocated
more than $20 million to set up an early warning system aiming
to stop the spread of the disease.
WHO said over the weekend that most of the world's outbreaks
of the disease are subsiding thanks in large part to strict
isolation of patients in affected areas.
Thompson reiterated that people should not travel to affected
areas — especially China, Taiwan and Hong Kong — until the
virus was brought under control there.
"I would strongly recommend that you do not travel, unless
it is absolutely necessary," he said.
Thompson:
'I do not think SARS is going to go away.' European Commission
via AP
