DFAIT logo partnership The logo for the by design elab, an independent research development and production think tank specializing in online forums for policy development, incubated in 1997 at the McLuhan Program at the University of Toronto
DFAIT Home Site Map Help Policies Partners Feedback Netcast Français
 
Welcome
Message from the Minister
Dialogue Paper
Answer Questions
View Answers
Discussion Forum
 

Security

Thank you for participating in the Dialogue on Foreign Policy. The interactive web site is now closed. The Minister's report will appear on this web site once it is released.

This Forum is bilingual, and participants post messages in their language of choice.

Is the United Nations World Health Organization credible?

Contributor: jwitt

Date: 2003-04-24 15:12:30


In fact, data from the CDC has shown that the virus can remain viable outside the host (on surfaces etc) for 24 hours or more. Longer than any known respiratory virus. I don't mean to be a panic mongerer, but given the highly contagious nature of the virus, the WHO can't be blamed for their actions. Recall the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 which killed an estimated 50 million- and that was before modern air travel. Frankly, I think the government has dropped the ball on this one from day one. It was only a matter of time before something like this emerged, and it most certainly will again.

Reply to this message

Show in topic

Is the United Nations World Health Organization credible?

Contributor: Fleabag

Date: 2003-04-24 23:18:50


Evidently, another big concern is the rapid rate of mutation for SARS. Vaccinations at this time would be wasted. It (SARS) has to run it's course through until world effort can be focused on something. (What is it with four letter acronyms? SARS, AIDS, JAFO et al?)
I do not believe gov'ts are more responsible than humanic desire for complacency and capacity for denial.

Reply to this message

Is the United Nations World Health Organization credible?

Contributor: fatmomma

Date: 2003-04-28 02:39:01


"I do not believe gov'ts are more responsible than humanic desire for complacency and capacity for denial"
That is exactly the reason why the government must use stronger measures such as quarantine to control the possible spread of this disease. Some people cannot be trusted to take the proper precautions to avoid spreading this disease. If we had been stricter in contolling and quarantining persons with HIV perhaps that disease would not have spread so quickly and widely.

Reply to this message