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Tuesday, May 13, 2003SARS has stumped scientists and public health experts the world over, but not, apparently, the Leaflady. Her Web site is one of more than 40 that are receiving warnings from U.S. and Canadian officials for touting bogus SARS remedies like personal air purifiers and oregano oil. Well, I'm safe. The oregano in my garden is growing gangbusters. But this story, forwarded by a reader, is discouraging. Looks like we aren't doing a very good job of screening people returning from Asia. On a more encouraging note, the private market has been remarkably responsive, and quick, in developing a diagnostic test for the virus: The UN health agency has been surprised by private industry's rapid response for diagnostic tests, McNab said. "Several companies have given us free diagnostic kits for testing. Most are based on the same principles, so the trick is sorting them all out and seeing which ones really work. "Diagnostics for SARS have come very far, very fast," she said, "especially when compared to other emerging diseases." Food safety expert Dr. Lester Crawford, deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said that a direct diagnostic test for SARS is being developed and in the final stages leading to FDA approval. "There is a test available now that basically rules out everything except the coronavirus believed responsible for SARS," he said. "But this new test will be for the coronavirus itself." posted by Sydney on 5/13/2003 07:11:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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