Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome also known as SARS is a new disease that is spreading at an incredible rate throughout the world. This disease has already spread from Asia to North America and most likely it will hit our shores soon.

SARS, whose symptoms include fever, aches, cough and shortness of breath, has killed at least 84 people in Asia and Canada so far and sickened at least 2,300 in more than a dozen nations as infected travelers spread the disease through air travel. In the United States, 115 cases in 29 states have been reported to this date, including three suspected in Florida.

There is no cure for this disease and so far no vaccine has been developed. US President George W Bush has given American health officials the power to quarantine patients suspected of having the SARS and persons are being advised not to travel to places such as Hong Kong.


The questions are:

1. Have the Bahamian people been informed fully of what measures the Government will be taking if this disease is discovered here?

2. What measures do you think should be taken to help prevent this disease from reaching our islands?

3. Are the health services in the Bahamas really prepared for this new epidemic?

Please feel free to post your comments on this issue.

You must be kidding.

Most Bahamian Doctors here couldn't find a problem from a simple blood test.

Why did my wife go into a coma? Because the Doctor was thinking more of his cash flow, rather than analyzing the results. Some things go un-noticed, nor do they care.

I find a big seperation between healthcare professionals and the people they are supposed to be administering healthcare to.

Why do Bahamian HealthCare professionals neglect there own? They would go out of their way to provide assistance to an individual from Lyford Cay, I bet.

Now, I have met some that care, but they are few and far between. Through my experience, the Bahamas, could be in deep trouble with this disease.

I am just glad I don't work down on Bay Street.

Be it as it may i work in a enviroment where i meet thousands of foreign people every day . You must be thinking how funny. But the truth is that you could have already come in contact with someone who has this diesease my advice to any one who cares about themselves is to get all the information they possibly can.

The Bahamian Government has not yet informed the people of how really dangerous this virus is. furthermore i don't really think we as a nation is prepared for such a virus, after all the USA is still finding ways to deal with it. we cant really stop it people still have to travel and as we all know our nation strive of Tourism, they must come to our shores. The Bible tells me as long as I am in covenant with God and serving him, that no deadly or virus will come to my dwelling place and i truly believe that, i have to stand on the word of God.

Originally posted by jennifer
The Bible tells me as long as I am in covenant with God and serving him, that no deadly or virus will come to my dwelling place and i truly believe that, i have to stand on the word of God.

*SIGH*

When will people learn that god is not there to follow you around and whipe your hiney for you. The old man up in the sky isn't going to prevent you from getting sick when you come in contact with someone who has Sars. You need stop believing in these fairy tales. Be smart, and please don't replace Vitamin-C and Thera-Flu with some empty stories.

We all know that you don't believe in God so there is no need to stray away from the subject with another debate.

The questions are:

1. Have the Bahamian people been informed fully of what measures the Government will be taking if this disease is discovered here?

2. What measures do you think should be taken to help prevent this disease from reaching our islands?

3.Are the health services in the Bahamas really prepared for this new epidemic?

If you want to discuss the existence of God click here: http://www.bahamasissues.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=200

Greetings,

Ironically, although I'm right here in the USA, this is the first I've heard of yet another virus crossing our lands (*globally*) ... This is unfortunate... However, I'm with Jennifer, what are our options nationally? Surely, just as in the Bahamas, the potential for major capitol ($$$) loss limits the precautionary measures that our leaders will actually enforce to prevent the spread of this virus to the masses.. :( My guess is that international travel and tourism won't miss a beat...virus or no virus... I am extremely interested in hearing some additional feedback/comments on this issue from the Bahamian community...

Nevertheless, being that, even with all the scientific researchers and medical experts that are working overtime/around the clock, we still have no solid "cure" for even the common cold (sniffles..lol)... I render thanks and praises to my lord and savior Jesus Christ for having me covered..lol:dancer2: That I might boldly say "no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper"!

My prayers are extended those who have, will & are suffering in our nation...

God bless,
ASB :angel:

Hello all,

Since my post on yesterday, I have been blessed with the opportunity to do a little more reading/research on the SARS epidemic that our nation is currently facing. Apparently, although the agent causing SARS has not been fully characterized and there is no certain treatment, vaccine and/or other known preventative measure, the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and a network of many of the world's top laboratories are working to develop a diagnostic test to help distinguish between those who are infected and those who are free of the SARS virus.

I also read that much is being learned as scientists, clinicians, laboratory chiefs and public health officials everywhere collaborate closely together to track the virus (which reportedly originated from China). In addition, national authorities have implemented heightened surveillance for cases of SARS and in most countries these individual cases are being identified quickly and patients (& all persons they may have transmitted the virus to) are immediately isolated/quarantined to illuminate the potential for transmission to others. I'm sure that this is devastating to those affected, as well as, their family/friends...but in my opinion this a great start to containing the spread of the virus...

I found this article...(http://bahamasb2b.com/news/wmview.php?ArtID=1445)... and it seems like Dr. Marcus C. Bethel, the Minister of Health there in the Bahamas, has assured the Bahamian public that there is no need for alarm... I pray this is the case in the Bahamas, as well as, across the nation.

My prayers and empathy are extended for the strength of those affected, their family/friends, our leaders, medical researchers/analyst, health care professionals, airline personnel and any/everyone affected by the spread of this tragic virus...

God bless...
ASB:angel:

P.S.
Here are a few helpful links:
1.) World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/sarscountry/2003_04_10/en/
2.) Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm

I am all for hoping that our health care system has the ablility to control the SARS virus but I dont think that it will be possible.. If industtial nations Like Canada and China who are technically advanced don't know what to do I think that we who are some what behind the eight ball will have to send many prayers to hope that it won't grace our shores... The Bahamian people need to be imformed about how dangerous this disease is and our hospital need to start making the necessary precautions to combat/control this disease if it were to hit the Bahamas.

Seeing the news these last few days makes me a little worried. Should SARS come to the Bahamas, It would travel at great speed through out the island. It seems it is mutating and even the major health organizations can't get a handle on it.

I suggest with some degree of experience that the Bahamas is not ready for SARS. On my last visit (May 03), upon arrival at the Immigration lounge, we were greeted by health workes who gloved and all handed us a questionnaire which contained four questions about our recent travels to the middle east and Canada. Off course every passenger answered negartively to each question to aovid any chance of being rejected from a
"vacation of a lifetime"! . Not to mention the health workers obviously had no way of confirming any of the answers provided. Being the obedient person that I am amd having been told by the health worker of the importance of honesty in answering the questions and the absolute necesssity of completeting it before I could be admitted, I found it quite amusing that I had to ask the immigration officer if she wanted my questionnaire. Her disinterested response was to take it, no snatch it from me and proceed to dispose of it without even a glance! What a joke.