Are people avoiding China in Epcot because of SARS?

[minnie56]

Carl was only expressing a legitimate concern.
It's not nice to make light of it ....

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Carl
Thanks for a serious answer to an honest question. I was not attempting to be disrespectful to China. You are probably right about the possibility of people being anywhere who have just came from China. Those here who think it is a big joke, evidently haven't been watching the news.

I've been watching the news and read up on it (partly because of an upcoming trip to Toronto) and you know what? Nothing I've seen or read indicates that going to a theme park that has a China-themed area is a dangerous idea.

Read up on things a little more, it might help

http://www.msnbc.com/news/895030.asp?0cb=-719145993
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/

 

[DonnaS]

Yes, to Carl it is a legitimate concern, but it sounds like he has fallen for the sensationalism that the media is promoting. Rely on www.cdc.gov and such sites to determine if you really should be concerned. IMHO no, you shouldn't.

As always, take precautions such as frequently washing your hands, etc. This will help with other illnesses as well.

Have a great trip. I've heard that either they have or will be redoing the film in the China pavillion. I can't wait to see it.

 

[BarryHom]

Hmmm...then we need to avoid Splendid China too in Kissimmee. As a matter of fact, I'm Asian, so you need to avoid me. What about Deb in IA?

I don't know, but it sounds kind of silly to me, like those who boycott the France pavilion.

 

[Deb in IA]

I think it's the assumption that anyone from China, or anyone who looks Chinese may infect you with SARS that is a bit, well, racist.


You may want to read this:Report: SARS Likely Spread Through Pipes
Hong Kong's Worst SARS Outbreak Spread Through Building Plumbing, Health Official Says

The Associated Press

HONG KONG April 17 —
The biggest SARS outbreak in Hong Kong spread through the plumbing in an apartment complex after visits from a man sick with the disease, a health official said Thursday.

Water droplets contaminated with the SARS virus may have been sucked out of bathroom drains into apartments by ventilation fans, said the Hong Kong health secretary, Dr. Yeoh Eng-kiong.

The disease severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, apparently also was spread through person-to-person contact and possibly by rats and cockroaches, Yeoh told a news conference.

The outbreak at the Amoy Gardens apartment complex was traced to a mainland Chinese man visiting his brother in March. The man's symptoms included diarrhea and his use of the bathroom helped set in motion a chain of events that eventually sickened 324 people from the apartments, an official report found.

Many who came down with SARS in the Block E building of the apartments also got diarrhea, spreading the disease further through faulty seals between sewage and water drains, Yeoh said.

The outbreak at Amoy Gardens has been the most alarming yet in the former British colony, which has reported 65 SARS deaths. Worldwide, SARS has infected more than 3,300 people and more than 160 people have died, most in Asia.

Block E building was temporarily evacuated, and Yeoh said the outbreak has now been contained.

"We were scared at first, but after the isolation, we haven't seen any outbreak like what we had before," said one resident, Anna Yuen, 45, who lives in Block E with her husband and three children.

The World Health Organization announced Wednesday that scientists have confirmed the identity of the SARS virus, a key step toward finding drugs to combat the disease.

The disease, which emerged in southern China in November, has been spread primarily by travelers or those in contact with them.

India, the world's second-most-populous nation, reported its first SARS case Thursday a 32-year-old man who contracted the disease after traveling to Hong Kong and Singapore.

In Singapore, airline passengers arriving from some infected places were being scanned for fever. Airline passengers leaving Hong Kong were forced to undergo temperature tests starting Thursday.

Beijing universities said Thursday they have canceled activities and some classes to prevent the spread of SARS, breaking with earlier official insistence on continuing public events.

Thailand's public health minister said Southeast Asian leaders would meet in Bangkok on April 29 to discuss ways to stop the disease, which is devastating the region's airlines, hotels and other businesses.

For the first time, China's government said the outbreak could hurt the nation's economic growth, echoing projections by private economists. Singapore also drastically cut its economic growth forecast for 2003.

"SARS, for sure, will have an influence on the economy's performance in China," said Yao Jingyuan, an economist at China's National Bureau of Statistics.

In releasing the report on Amoy Gardens, Hong Kong health officials said there was no evidence SARS has been an airborne disease. But they discussed a "chimney effect" in which contaminated water droplets from a leak in Block E had apparently risen through an air shaft and into some apartments.

Yeoh said if SARS had spread through the air, "We're not talking about 300 cases. It would be thousands, tens of thousands."

SARS also was apparently spread in Amoy Gardens through person-to-person contact and in common areas, such as elevators, lobbies and staircases.





I don't believe the China Pavilion's plumbing is connected to the sewer system in the Amoy Gardens in Hong Kong -- those would be some pretty long pipes!!!!

If there were an ACTUAL OUTBREAK OF SARS among the CM's from the China Pavilion, that would be different. But just because they have some association with China is far-fetched.

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

Sheesh, I'll probably get flamed for this, but it seems to me that everyone is a bit on the grumpy side today. While I agree that Carl's question may be a bit on the over-reaction side, he had a legitimate concern and he came here for serious opinions on the matter, not to get flamed. Like I said, I may get flamed, but everyone just needs to relax. If you can't offer any advice, then why even post?

Carl, IMHO, I think you should go and enjoy everything WDW has to offer. I'm sure Disney has taken every precaution possible to keep all of their guests and cast members safe. Go, relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself!

 

[minnie56]

It's only fear of the unknown.

And when the medical profession doesn't seem to really know where it came from and are only just learning how to deal with it...well, that doesn't exactly give us much peace of mind.

If you read the front page of our Newspaper today you would be scared...but it really does come down to being careful and washing,washing,washing those hands!Life has to go on...

Besides, here in Canada they are already telling us we have to be concerned with West Nile Virus as it is forecast to be really bad this summer so we cannot dwell on too many things at one time!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

a-a-a-aaaaaachoooooo!!

Uh oh...looks like it spreads over the Internet too.

 

[minnie56]

Hope I never come here to get some comfort when I am afraid of something.

I guess it makes you think twice.

 

[springsteenmickey]

Sorry for all you Carl supporters but IMHO I believe boycotting China is just as crazy as all those Americans boycotting Canada because our PM refused to allow Canada to enter the war.

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by wdwoldtimer
a-a-a-aaaaaachoooooo!!

Uh oh...looks like it spreads over the Internet too.

Nah, that's just a computer virus....take two Nortons and call me in the morning.

Bev "Spreading the 'Good Times' virus since 1998" Hamilton

 

[kejoda]

Maybe you people should be using your words to EDUCATE INSTEAD OF RIDICULEING him

 

[minnie56]

Who said anything about boycotting China??
He just said he was a little nervous and was anyone else?
That's all........

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by kejoda
Maybe you people should be using your words to EDUCATE INSTEAD OF RIDICULEING him

AMEN to that, Beccy.

But you know what?? It's just not possible with some of these people. They think that everyone enjoys their smart *** sense of humor. I don't think anyone but those in the Circle of Sarcasm do. And - thank goodness - they are few in number.



Carl, as you know, there are cases here in town. I don't blame you for being concerned. It's good to see you posting. I hope your mom is well. Happy Easter and have a great trip. Take care, my friend.

 

[minnie56]

I think this one has been flogged to death!

 

[ez]

While I would not be reluctant to go to The China pavillion specifically, I am concerned about our overall Disney trip in June. Even the Orlando sentinel has posted aricles suggesting Orlando is expecting to eventually be hit with SARS. There are so many international travelers there, and it would unfortunately only take one to start an outbreak. Like most parents, I am concerned not for myself but for my family.
It is very scary when people make statements about things they are not totally sure about. As a postal worker, I am reminded of the anthrax situation... they kept telling us we were perfectly safe, and that we wouldn't be exposed unless we opened a letter. Yeah, right, we all know how that turned out! So while I think Carls idea that you might be more likely to catch SARS in the China pavillion then somewhere else in WDW is unfounded, I think what he is really saying is this relatively unknown and understood illness is making him nervous, and its making me a bit nervous as well.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

JTB, LOVE the circle of sarcasm comment. Funny how you think it's ok for you to be sarcastic though especially when it comes to defending a certain banned DISer. I would have done this by PM but you threw it out there.

I found Carl's question sort of racist since why would you assume SARS was around just because there were Chinese people there? I believe someone else would have thought along the same lines but would have used bolded and colored text to get his point across.

 

[madonna31]

Thank you Jas - you took the words out of my fingers...

 

[helenabear]

Carl, you have been given a few good answers here. I don't think it would be anything to be concerned about (at least anymore so than anywhere else at WDW). Just go with your mom and have a wonderful time!!! You two definitely deserve a good trip after all that happened before & just after your last trip was canceled.

I must say I am sorry that some reacted the way they did to your serious concern. Enjoy that trip!!!!

 

[madonna31]

For SOME people - making light of a situation is the way that THEY handle it - and perhaps that's all some of these people were doing towards the original poster, in hopes of making them feel better about the situation

...some people are serious about situations, others are sarcastic...for some - as in this situation - joking about the loss of a loved one happens to help them get *over it*...each to THEIR own way of handling situations...

People have recovered from SARS and gone home. You don't hear about that on the news. Only the dramatic stuff.

Newsflash: only bad publicity sells commercials...