A crude graph of SARS to date. Each * = 50 cases, each x = 5 deaths
(my graph is getting pretty pathetic, and lines are gong to start scrolling, rendering it useless. Anyone know of a good, simple graphing program that might allow me to display graphs here?)
Mar 17
***
x
Mar 18
****
xx
Mar 19
*****
xx
Mar 20
******
xx
Mar 21
*******
xx
Mar 22
********
xx
Mar 23 (no data)
Mar 24
*********
xxx
Mar 25
**********
xxx
Mar 26
**************************
xxxxxxxxxx
Mar 27
****************************
xxxxxxxxxxx
Mar 28
******************************
xxxxxxxxxxx
Mar 29
*******************************
xxxxxxxxxxx
Mar 30 (no data)
Mar 31
********************************
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 1
***********************************
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 2
********************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 3
*********************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 4
***********************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 5
************************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 6 (no data)
Apr 7
****************************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 8
*****************************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 9
******************************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Apr 10
********************************************************
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Both cases and deaths continue to rise steadily, though not as steeply as at first. The jump on Apr 7 was partly due, I think, to increased reporting from China.
The first confirmed case of SARS in Africa has been reported.
The disease is far from under control:
Dr Julie Gerberding, head of the Centre for Communicable Diseases, told a Congressional committee that the new disease -severe acute respiratory syndrome - had as yet no cure and no vaccine.
"It has the potential to spread very quickly and to spread globally," she said.
BBC/ BBC site / April 7, 2002
Chinese officials have not made adequate efforts to educate people abut SARS.
In their broom-cupboard of an apartment, we found Mr Zhao's wife, Pingping, boiling vinegar in her wok.
"It kills the virus," she explained, and showed me a cupboard full of traditional Chinese anti-flu medicine.
"Does it actually work?" I asked. "We are not sure," admitted Mr Zhao. "But what else can we do? No one has told us what we should be doing to prevent the disease."
BBC/ Holly Williams BBC correspondent in Beijing / April 5, 2002