Should we cancel becuase of SARS??

[madonna31]

They all had some link to someone who had been in Asia or who had cared for someone with SARS. Same in Canada, in fact there most of the cases have been traced back to 2 people who had traveled to Asia and were treated in an ER or an ICU before anyone knew about SARS.

FINALLY - someone who is EDCUCATED about SARS on this thread...

geez...if your worried about *us Canadians* dont be in WDW from May 3 - May 17th...that's when I will be there, and I am NOT changing my plans - I only live 20 minutes from Toronto...

When the top story in Toronto is the Maple Leafs winning last night in overtime over Philadelphia, I HIGHLY doubt that SARS is even worth a second thought!!!



BTW - we have 287 cases reported, the US has 174...your numbers are climbing just as much as ours!

 

[gonga]

I think you should cancel and stay home. I also think you should home school your children, shop for groceries on pea pod, wear kleenex boxes on your feet, seal your windows and doors, and start building a bunker in your back yard. Prepare for the worst........the sky is falling.


We are looking forward to our Atlantis/WDW trip in 25 days. We're going to have fun, gamble, get a tan, after 4 days get on another plane and have the time of my life in WDW. No I do not plan on sitting on any toilet seats or kiss a stranger on the lips. Then again I have never done these things anyway, so I feel pretty safe with my sanitary habits that I have been practicing since age 5! Two of those habits is keep your fingers out of your mouth (and not to touch your eyes or mucous (sp?) membranes with dirty fingers) and wash your hands or use hand sanitizers.

These practices take much less effort than fear.

 

[springsteenmickey]

They all had some link to someone who had been in Asia or who had cared for someone with SARS. Same in Canada, in fact there most of the cases have been traced back to 2 people who had traveled to Asia and were treated in an ER or an ICU before anyone knew about SARS.

Madonnna, you stole my thunder. I too am Canadian and I will be there during the same period and guess what, the only thing that scares me is ignorant comments like the one just made. Lets see now- b4 anyone knew about SARS comment is a total joke - WAKE UP. It just makes me cringe that bpeople have such beliefs. Are you now going to exclude all Asians from entering your country now. I guess Japan and Canada is out at EPCOT

Better wear your masks, I might sneeze when I am there

 

[bratray]

I don't think the original poster was pointing a finger at any group of people- just stating a fact- that canada has the next highest SARS rate next to Asian areas

i am canadian and not offended by the previous posters remarks- i am offended that many are making light of this posters concerns-everyone has different tolerence levels to anxious situations and to act like this posters concerns over SARS have no merit is not very compasionate

i too have concerns about SARS and traveling- and belive me- lots of other people do too- whether i decide to delay my trips will be a personal choice based on accurate information i read about the SARS outbreak and how it is progressing

I hope you make the best decison for you and your family and don't ever feel that being concerned about a deadly illness is being over cautious- sometimes you just have to step back and put things in perspective

good luck on your decision

lisa

 

[madonna31]

Sorry - but the original post rubbed me the wrong way..!!

Quote from the original post:

especially people from Canada which is the worst country in cases besides the far east?

Why did the poster say BESIDES?!? I am pretty positive that people from the far East visit Walt Disney World as well as Canadians!!!

I for one was only trying to educate the original poster into taking her trip - the US has nearly 200 cases themselves, where lies the difference?!?

 

[Chuck S]

We Americans are NOT paranoid!

Hey, does anybody in Canada want to borrow some plastic sheeting and duct tape?

 

[MOQ3424]

As every one else is saying ... GO!! have a great time pack some wet ones to make you feel more comfortable!!

But i think it oculd happen but not likely =]!!!

 

[Dznefreek]

I say stupid question.

What about your plane crashing or getting in an auto accident?

There are sooooo many variables that could affect any and all trips that it is not worth the time or effort.

Oh, what about hurricanes, what about food poisoning, snake bites, etc.

 

[epcotfan]

I live in Toronto and I'm not worried. My mother works in a Toronto hospital. They are taking every precaution to prevent an outbreak. We have every intention of travelling to WDW. The flu kills thousands more every year but you don't hear about that on the news. What about West Nile? I'm a bit more concerned about that.

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

 

[jaysue]

I was hesitant to step into this post since it can get pretty emotional

The fact of the matter is that both Canadians and American labs are working hard on isolating, understanding and coming up potentially with a treatment(s) for this new variant disease. The fact of the matter is that if the Chinese government/authorities had been more forthcoming about this disease then the person who torched it all off in Toronto maybe would have been in isolation and we would not have seen at least 5,000 people + put in 10 day quarantine in their homes in the Greater Toronto Area.

Hand Washing, sanitary practices, simply walking away from anyone who appears sick or is coughing in a way that concerns you. These will not give 100% comfort but will go a long way to ensuring that you do not get this unfortunate disease.

The decision has to be a personal one. Every day we go to work, go to food courts, movies, theatre, nursing homes etc. where we have multiple potential exposures. I for one refuse to be a hermit and when my time comes, I hope to be able to say I lived life to the fullest possible extent under the circumstances.

There I feel much better now...

Thanks
Jason

 

[chrisn]

The original posters concern is a very real one. I don't know why some people have to be so snotty and rude. Everyone perceives and handles things differently. A particular person's anxiety level is a very good point. It's like how one handles grief compared to another. EVERYBODY'S different and that doesn't make the ones who are concerned obsessive freaks of nature so lay off people. A question was asked and a concern voiced. Didn't your mommies ever tell you if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Jeez, where have everyday manners and common courtesy gone? Out the window I think. Yes, I agree that the media sensationalizes but just because some of you let your 5 year old ride their bike on a main highway by themselves doesn't mean we all should and the one's who don't are not overprotective parents, it just means that it's more of a concern to some of us. Well to some people, myself included, this SARS thing is a concern. Every year we go to Disneyworld, we all get sick. I never get sick but my head was in the toilet with the rest of them. I LOVE WDW and I will return but I have to admit that to ME and to many other people despite this post WDW seems like a slightly higher risk right now due to all of the American's and Foreigners travelling from many different parts of the world on airplanes. I mean people are wearing masks to try and lower the risk so there are concerns. I just got back from WDW and Playa Del Carmen in early March and I for one am glad that we travelled when we did because I would DEFINITELY be anxious about this if we were travelling now, especially with my 5 year old being an asthmatic. Yes, RIGHT NOW you have a higher risk of getting struck by lightening or eaten by a shark but there is still a risk and I know there is a risk walking out your front door but this is a very real concern obviously with some more than others. So be compassionate people and if your going to post, answer the question without trying to demean someone or rolling eyeballs like others are idiots K? Off my soapbox.

 

[GlennandAnn]

EVRYONE should cancel their trips to Disney during the first week of June so I can have the parks to myself!

Glenn

 

[madonna31]

WDW seems like a slightly higher risk right now due to all of the American's and Foreigners travelling from many different parts of the world on airplanes.

As far as Im concerned - this was the ONLY difference that the original poster had to make...that is WASNT JUST CANADIANS!!! (sorry - but there was no other way that original post could have been interpreted - this person made it sound like we were diseased rats or something?!?)

BTW- 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

YOU said it yourself:

Everyone perceives and handles things differently.

...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...

Epcot fan was 100% right: "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...

 

[Bruce in PA]

Like jaysue, I am reluctant to jump into this
but I think I can add something to the discussion,
so here goes:

First off, let me say that we have a 10-day trip
to OKW coming up in late June and we have
no intentions of changing our plans...as of now.

But we all need to know that this situation
*is* serious and that it could indeed worsen
to the point where it could affect all of us.

SARS in not the flu. It is nasty and, yes,
potentially deadly. Most people who contract it
do recover, as has been noted already. But in
addition to the 4% who do not survive, an
additional percentage of SARS patients
require hospitalization and breathing assistance.

While most fatalities from flu tend to be older
and sicker people to begin with, a number of
those who die from SARS are young and healthy
before getting the SARS virus.

And, although health officials are doing everything
they can to stop it from spreading, there are
indications that it is not yet controlled. If SARS
becomes a pandemic in China, it will eventually
find its way to the rest of the world as well.

The virus that causes SARS is easily spread;
it may be transmitted via persons who are
infected but have little or no signs of illness,
according to scientists studying the disease.
While there is no evidence yet to confirm this,
researchers believe that such "super
spreaders" may be responsible for many
of the new cases being seen in Hong Kong
and the rest of China.

Microbiologists at the University of Hong Kong
have predicted that SARS could infect up to
80 percent of the population within a year,
although it is not clear how they came up
with such a number.

Again, I am not posting this information to scare
or alarm anyone. But I think we all need to know
just what the potential is. I don't believe this
is all "media hype;" this could very easily end
up being a serious and dangerous situation to
all of us in the months ahead.

I hope that's not the case. I will be more than
happy to write back in August and admit that
I was way too concerned about this.

But in the meantime, I'm washing my hands more
often and keeping my distance from folks with bad coughs...

 

[gonga]

Hmmmm......I find it very interesting that the country that did not "come clean" and did nothing to contain the virus 6 months ago is predicting 80% contamination world wide. Where oh where did you read such media hype, may I ask?


Sorry, still ain't buying any of it!

I look at it this way, if you're afraid of the water....you don't go on a cruise. If you are afraid of germs........you don't go to Disney.
There are plenty of other places to visit, which are more germ-o-phobe friendly. If SARS infection is high on your anxiety list, maybe people fearing this virus should cancel. Alaska is very nice this time of year.

 

[Bruce in PA]

Gonga -- Yours is definitely the right approach.
Less worry = less stress...

But please don't blame the microbiologists at
University of Hong Kong for the Chinese government's
mishandling of SARS cases!

However, you can blame me for misquoting: it was
80% in TWO years, not one.

Here's a link to the article (one of many; it was
an AP story that ran last week...)

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/thrive/2003/apr/08/040808073.html

"...Dr. Samson Wong, a microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, warned SARS might infect 80 percent of the population within two years, and eventually everyone could be infected."

 

[CarolA]

Good Grief!

 

[froggyq]

Hello,


Everyone I thank you for your comments. And no I do not "Freak"
about everything it's just it was a fast moving disease. And easy to pass. That is why.
I did not not mean to offend Canandians my mother is Canadian born and I have lots of family in Ontario and PEI. THAT I LOVE!!They have stressed to me the number of cases appearing. And since they cautioned me about my travels and leaving our children open to getting it. I am worried about more my children then me.
GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE STILL GOING!!!
I COULDN'T LET MY 6year old DOWN IT WILL BE HIS 9th TIME TO DISNEY!!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!
ESPECIALLY ALL OF THE CANADIANS AND BRITISH!!
AGAIN I AM SORRY IF I OFFENDED ,MY HUSBAND WORKS CLOSELY WITH YOU GUYS AND WOULD NEVER WANT TO OFFEND OR BELITTLE THEM!!!!

 

[gonga]

Bruce in PA: Thanks for the information, very interesting. I refuse to let these things change my way of life. Education and is still the best preventative medicine. It reminds me of when AIDS was first in the news. I'm sure you all remember that. All the early information that was stated in the press regarding how the virus is spread was incorrect (thru saliva, mothers not sending their kids to school...yata yata yata). No one knew so everyone over-reacted, much like this. I'm sure in a few years we will be saying the same about SARS.

 

[northernmouse]

The OP asked a legitimate question, and one can give the benefit of the doubt to the 'especially Canadians' comment -- Canada has had a notable number of cases -- and deaths -- so it is newsworthy, and Canadians do readily travel in large numbers to WDW, mostly through Toronto. So, even though my own eyebrows raised at first, I figure it's a 'no harm, no foul' comment in terms of intent.

We, too, are going to be on a DCL cruise and at WDW May 3 to May 15 and have no intention of changing our plans. (What's with the Canadian migration to WDW that week --- kind of lends substance to the OP's comment!)

Just to add to the discussion on SARS, the vast majority of SARS deaths in Canada have been in older folks who were also weakened by another ailment -- but that profile may be shifting, at least in Hong Kong. The National Post online has a special section on SARS, and the attention on SARS may be higher here. For those who are interested, this is the link:
http://canada.com/health/sars/