I came across this article in the Orlando Sentinel and was really concerned when I read it. I have posted the first part of the article the rest is at the following site:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...apr01,0,5969661.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
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ORLANDO SENTINEL
Orlando expects invasion by virus
By Stephanie Erickson
With a deadly respiratory virus rapidly spreading across the world, local officials say it's a question of when -- not if -- it spreads to Central Florida, the destination of millions of tourists each year.
Although SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, has not yet been reported in Florida, some health-care workers already are taking extra precautions -- such as quizzing sick tourists more closely and donning face masks if a patient has traveled recently in certain parts of Asia.
"It very likely will make its way here," said Bill Toth, epidemiologist with the Orange County Health Department. "This is a worldwide destination."
The virus was first detected in Southeast Asia in November and has infected more than 1,620 people. So far, 58 people have died from the virus. In this country, there are 59 suspected cases in 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is no proven treatment. But on Monday, a United Nations official said international health experts expect within days to identify the virus causing the disease.
"I think we can identify the causative agent in quite a short time period. We think probably within a few days, at most a few weeks," said Hitoshi Oani, the World Health Organization regional coordinator for SARS.
Last week, Orange County health officials were on alert during a floor-coverings convention that drew more than 20,000 people. Nearly 200 of the vendors at the Orange County Convention Center were from Asia, including three from Hong Kong.
"We were informed that a lot of vendors may have been in the Far East, and we also were getting information that SARS may be more infectious than first thought," said Dave Freeman, manager of the health-services division at Orange County's office of disaster and emergency services.
So his office sent convention-center officials information about what to look for and notified hospitals that the convention was going on.
Tom Ackerd, executive director of the convention center, said the next show to bring international visitors will be April 11, a kitchen- and bath-industry convention.
"We can't really prepare; we just have to wait and see," he said.
Employees at Florida Hospital-owned CentraCare in Lake Buena Vista are asking tourists more questions than usual -- and wearing face masks if a patient has been to Asia recently.
"They would probably be the first place to come in contact with this, being down there right in the heart of the tourist industry," Florida Hospital spokeswoman Stacy Heckman said of the CentraCare clinic.
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Upon reading this article, I wondered if this type of threat could also damage attendence at WDW. More importantly, I wondered if Disney was doing anything to maintain this virus out of the parks and resorts. With so many people coming in from foreign countries and visiting WDW it can only mean its a matter of time before this virus hits Florida. In the meantime, for all those who are going to travel to WDW in the near future, or visit the parks frequently, beware of SARS and stay informed about potential cases in the US. STAY SAFE...and hey still enjoy WDW, just be careful not to get sick...atleast not until they find a treatment for it.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...apr01,0,5969661.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
----------------------------------------
ORLANDO SENTINEL
Orlando expects invasion by virus
By Stephanie Erickson
With a deadly respiratory virus rapidly spreading across the world, local officials say it's a question of when -- not if -- it spreads to Central Florida, the destination of millions of tourists each year.
Although SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, has not yet been reported in Florida, some health-care workers already are taking extra precautions -- such as quizzing sick tourists more closely and donning face masks if a patient has traveled recently in certain parts of Asia.
"It very likely will make its way here," said Bill Toth, epidemiologist with the Orange County Health Department. "This is a worldwide destination."
The virus was first detected in Southeast Asia in November and has infected more than 1,620 people. So far, 58 people have died from the virus. In this country, there are 59 suspected cases in 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is no proven treatment. But on Monday, a United Nations official said international health experts expect within days to identify the virus causing the disease.
"I think we can identify the causative agent in quite a short time period. We think probably within a few days, at most a few weeks," said Hitoshi Oani, the World Health Organization regional coordinator for SARS.
Last week, Orange County health officials were on alert during a floor-coverings convention that drew more than 20,000 people. Nearly 200 of the vendors at the Orange County Convention Center were from Asia, including three from Hong Kong.
"We were informed that a lot of vendors may have been in the Far East, and we also were getting information that SARS may be more infectious than first thought," said Dave Freeman, manager of the health-services division at Orange County's office of disaster and emergency services.
So his office sent convention-center officials information about what to look for and notified hospitals that the convention was going on.
Tom Ackerd, executive director of the convention center, said the next show to bring international visitors will be April 11, a kitchen- and bath-industry convention.
"We can't really prepare; we just have to wait and see," he said.
Employees at Florida Hospital-owned CentraCare in Lake Buena Vista are asking tourists more questions than usual -- and wearing face masks if a patient has been to Asia recently.
"They would probably be the first place to come in contact with this, being down there right in the heart of the tourist industry," Florida Hospital spokeswoman Stacy Heckman said of the CentraCare clinic.
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Upon reading this article, I wondered if this type of threat could also damage attendence at WDW. More importantly, I wondered if Disney was doing anything to maintain this virus out of the parks and resorts. With so many people coming in from foreign countries and visiting WDW it can only mean its a matter of time before this virus hits Florida. In the meantime, for all those who are going to travel to WDW in the near future, or visit the parks frequently, beware of SARS and stay informed about potential cases in the US. STAY SAFE...and hey still enjoy WDW, just be careful not to get sick...atleast not until they find a treatment for it.
