X-Message-Number: 21774
From: "Ben Best " < >
Subject: My experience with SARS in Toronto, Canada 
Date: 18 May 2003 04:32:15 -0700

    It has been nearly a month since Toronto has had
a new locally-acquired case of SARS. Last week the
World Health Organization removed Toronto from the 
list of SARS-affected areas -- following a lift of the 
travel advisory against non-essential travel to Toronto
near the end of April.

     Being a somewhat paranoid life-extensionist I began
wearing a face mask on the subway in early April when
SARS fears were high and continued the practice for 
over two weeks. I never saw another person wearing 
a mask on the subway, but there were noticably fewer
passengers. 

    I work as a computer programmer for a very 
paranoid institution -- one of Canada's largest banks. 
Early in April the bank moved employees supporting
the same systems to different floors in case one 
floor had to be quarantined. Employees visiting 
different floors were to wear face masks. Anticeptic
hand clenser was placed in the washrooms and a 
sign encouraged employees to wash their hands 
both before and after using the toilet. I began holding
paper towels when opening doors. 

    (I believe the greatest infection risk in the 
washroom is from touching facilities rather than
genitals -- although infection can be transferred 
from hands to genitals during male urination if 
hands are not washed first. I think the prudish 
concept of genitals as extra-filthy causes 
scrupulous hand-washing in many cases in which
it is unnecessary. It would make far more sense 
to wash hands after each handling of money.) 

   I have a nose that is usually dripping and itchy.
I am constantly blowing and cleaning-out my nose.
I never go anywhere without a handkerchief. When
I am sitting alone I find it hard to go for more than 
a few minutes without touching my eyes, nose,
mouth or hair. 

    Having gone for 14 years without a sick day 
by keeping a healthy immune system I have not
had to concern myself much with infection. But I
am now much more conscious of my face-touching
habits and am working to combat them. Shifting
from my red handkerchiefs to tissue has made
me more aware of the redness of my snot. I 
think my excessive interest in nose-cleaning 
has been irritating to my mucous membranes
-- not good for resisting infection. My high 
intake of Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids 
reduces my vulnerability to cardiovascular 
clots, but it also makes my gums and nasal 
membranes bleed more easily. Fortunately, I 
am seeing less red as a result of cleaning my
nose less and being more gentle when I do.
(I refuse to use antihistamines because of 
neurological side-effects.) 

   Life is returning to normal in Toronto. The 
subways are jammed again during rush hour. 
My coworker is returning to his desk next to 
mine next week because it is valuable for 
people supporting the same systems to be
together. 

    The World Science Fiction Convention is
being held in Toronto August 28th to 
September 1st:

          http://www.torcon3.on.ca/

I intend to have cryonics room parties and 
we hope to have some cryonics-related 
panels. I encourage those who would be 
interested in attending to have no fear of
our fair city. 

   It is inevitable that virulent viral epidemics
-- whether of natural origin or engineered by
terrorists -- will recur and spread quickly in
this world of accelerating personal mobility.
I believe that Toronto will be one of the 
safest cities in North America as a result of 
our experience -- a physical infection has 
produced some powerful cultural antibodies.
The Toronto airport has a thermal detector
now. Consciousness of the risks of infection
and how to minimize them are much higher
than in other cities. 

    And another thing about Toronto:

        We have Christine Gaspar.

                  -- Ben Best 

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