Foreign
Desk
| April 24, 2003, Thursday
THE SARS
EPIDEMIC: THE SCIENTISTS; Virus Proves
Baffling, Turning Up in Only 40% of a Lab's
Test Cases
By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN (NYT) 1012
words
Late Edition - Final , Section A ,
Page 13 , Column 1
ABSTRACT
- Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory
finds virus for severe acute respiratory
syndrome in only 40 percent of probable and
suspected cases, suprisingly low rate;
additionally, portion of recent cases
testing positive for virus is declining, and
a number of people who are not suspected of
having SARS are testing positive; director
Dr Frank Plummer says findings have
potential to weaken link in Canada between
SARS and the previously unknown member of
coronavirus family that World Health
Organization has said is cause of SARS;
stresses he is not challenging WHO's
conclusion, but finds results 'weird'; WHO
says it continues to believe that new
coronavirus is cause of SARS, but is
following research developments (M) Canada's
main virology laboratory has found the virus
for severe acute respiratory syndrome in
only 40 percent of probable and suspect
cases, a surprisingly low rate that puzzles
the laboratory's scientific director and
other health officials.
Also, for unknown reasons, the portion of
recent cases testing positive for the virus
is declining, and a number of people who are
not suspected of having the disease are
testing positive, the director, Dr. Frank
Plummer, said.
How multi-packs work: A
multi-pack is an archive package that saves
you money by allowing you to pre-purchase a
set number of articles in bulk at a reduced
price. You can then debit from your
multi-pack and quickly access articles from
the archive at your convenience over the
lifetime of the multi-pack.
Once you purchase an
article, you may view it as often as you
like over the next 90 days. Archive articles
do not include photos, charts or graphics
Click here to purchase article if you
already own an archive article pack.
|
