Non-SARS Notes, May 8, 2003

Non-SARS Notes, May 8, 2003

In the spring of the Guiwei year, SARS raged across China, first in Guangdong and then in Beijing, followed by Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, and other regions. Hong Kong and Taiwan also reported cases one after another. Initially, some Hong Kong residents traveled to Canada and Vietnam, after which the disease suddenly broke out in these areas. In Hanoi, Vietnam, dozens of people fell ill, prompting the United Nations to dispatch experts; among them was Dr. Urbani from Italy, an internationally renowned expert on pathogens. Upon arriving in Hanoi to study the epidemic, he determined that the disease was caused by a mutated strain of coronavirus. After a month of intensive research, Dr. Urbani identified the pathogen, sequenced its genome, and named the virus SARS. On March 29, 2003, he suddenly succumbed to SARS in Hanoi. The WHO had previously suggested renaming the coronavirus variant as Urbani virus. The disease spreads extremely rapidly and is highly contagious, primarily through droplet transmission, but can also be transmitted via respiratory and contact routes. Western medical treatment mainly involves antibiotics, hormones, and biological agents, with tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation used when necessary. The main symptoms include high fever, dry cough, general fatigue and pain, followed by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, multi-organ damage, and organ dysfunction, ultimately leading to death. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners such as Deng Tietao in Guangzhou have recommended formulas like Haoqin Qingdan Tang, Ganlu Xiaodu Wan, Sanren Tang, and Huopu Xialing Tang. My own view is that in the early stage, Ma Huang Tang, Maxing Shigan Tang, and Da Xiao Qinglong Tang are more appropriate; in the later stage, Liangge San and Taoren Chengqi Tang are preferable. The formulas mentioned by Mr. Deng should be adjusted and used during the intermediate phase. Additionally, several folk remedies circulating in society for preventing SARS—such as honeysuckle, indigofera, atractylodes, large green leaf, polygonatum, astragalus, white atractylodes, and ledebouria—are still not proven effective. In my opinion, injecting biological agents certainly enhances immunity, but their exact efficacy still requires long-term observation before a definitive conclusion can be drawn.