Do you think SARS is a reasonable factor to consider in terms of whether or
not to get hostel accommodation? I like hostels for the most part, and
generally you cannot beat the price. However, it seems to me that any time
you increase the number of people that you spend a lot of time with, you
increase the risk of getting an air-borne illness. On the other hand, when
travelling, you are exposed to so many different people anyway, that 12
people in your hostel room overnight might not be much to worry about.

I'm mostly interested in SARS in respect to hostel accommodation in Europe
and the United States. To be fair, I suppose that Europeans and Americans
might consider me a risk if they find out I'm from Vancouver.

Is SARS changing your travel plans at all? Do you plan to wear masks on the
plane for routes that are not specifically Asia-related?

Does anyone have any facts or figures to throw at this question? Any
statistics about the risk of infection?

Traveler

Traveler wrote:
    > Do you think SARS is a reasonable factor to consider in terms of whether
    > or not to get hostel accommodation? I like hostels for the most part, and
    > generally you cannot beat the price. However, it seems to me that any time
    > you increase the number of people that you spend a lot of time with, you
    > increase the risk of getting an air-borne illness. On the other hand, when
    > travelling, you are exposed to so many different people anyway, that 12
    > people in your hostel room overnight might not be much to worry about.

I think it's a pretty ridiculous concern. SARS isn't nearly as deadly as a
lot of other conditions going around out there, and the number of people in
European hostels who have it is, if greater than zero at all, tiny. What's
the chance of finding one of them and having them whisper sweet nothings
into your mouth?

    > Is SARS changing your travel plans at all? Do you plan to wear masks on
    > the plane for routes that are not specifically Asia-related?

No, nor did I for flights in Asia (including Vietnam a few weeks ago). I
know enough math to know that if I'm not hanging around hospitals, and if I
don't actually know anyone who has it, I'm far better off focusing my
efforts on avoiding being hit by a car, which is a far more real threat. In
the past month 150 people have died from SARS, most of them already infirm
before they got it. Meanwhile in that same time 65000 people were killed by
cars.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Dubai and Vietnam

Traveler wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Do you think SARS is a reasonable factor to consider in terms of whether
or
    > not to get hostel accommodation? I like hostels for the most part, and
    > generally you cannot beat the price. However, it seems to me that any time
    > you increase the number of people that you spend a lot of time with, you
    > increase the risk of getting an air-borne illness. On the other hand, when
    > travelling, you are exposed to so many different people anyway, that 12
    > people in your hostel room overnight might not be much to worry about.
    > I'm mostly interested in SARS in respect to hostel accommodation in Europe
    > and the United States. To be fair, I suppose that Europeans and Americans
    > might consider me a risk if they find out I'm from Vancouver.
    > Is SARS changing your travel plans at all? Do you plan to wear masks on
the
    > plane for routes that are not specifically Asia-related?
    > Does anyone have any facts or figures to throw at this question? Any
    > statistics about the risk of infection?
    > Traveler
Don't even worry about it - even if you're going to Asia and even if you're
goiung to HK, you'd have to be pretty unlucky to come across someone who was
infected. in Europe, you're more likely to win the lotto and get struck by
lightening on the same day.
SARS is not that infectious (you appear to need close personall contact to
become infected, which is why many cases have been in medical staff). It
appears to be a relatvely serious illness, killing around 1 in 10 infected
people.

So far as hostels are concerned, I would guess that you're more likely to
get infected on the plane with that recycled air.

The drive to the airport will still be, by far, the most dangerous part of
your trip.

Don't worry about SARS in hostels. You have a greater chance of getting
Hep-C or the flu than you do of getting SARS.

DBW

Traveler wrote:

    > Do you think SARS is a reasonable factor to consider in terms of whether or
    > not to get hostel accommodation? I like hostels for the most part, and
    > generally you cannot beat the price. However, it seems to me that any time
    > you increase the number of people that you spend a lot of time with, you
    > increase the risk of getting an air-borne illness. On the other hand, when
    > travelling, you are exposed to so many different people anyway, that 12
    > people in your hostel room overnight might not be much to worry about.
    > I'm mostly interested in SARS in respect to hostel accommodation in Europe
    > and the United States. To be fair, I suppose that Europeans and Americans
    > might consider me a risk if they find out I'm from Vancouver.
    > Is SARS changing your travel plans at all? Do you plan to wear masks on the
    > plane for routes that are not specifically Asia-related?
    > Does anyone have any facts or figures to throw at this question? Any
    > statistics about the risk of infection?
    > Traveler

On Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:39:06 +0200, "John Stolz"
wrote:

    >SARS is not that infectious (you appear to need close personall contact to
    >become infected, which is why many cases have been in medical staff). It
    >appears to be a relatvely serious illness, killing around 1 in 10 infected
    >people.

I understood 4% of known cases (ignoring the fact that it being a flu,
you can get it, but not severely enough to be hospitalised/diagnosed)

I agree though, you're ridiculous to consider avoiding hostels.

Jim.

Most hostels also offer private rooms & some w/ private bathrooms - just a
thought...

JB
Minneapolis International Hostel
http://www.minneapolishostel.com
Phone: +1 (612) 522-5000
Fax: +1 (612) 872-8510

"Traveler" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Do you think SARS is a reasonable factor to consider in terms of whether
or
    > not to get hostel accommodation? I like hostels for the most part, and
    > generally you cannot beat the price. However, it seems to me that any time
    > you increase the number of people that you spend a lot of time with, you
    > increase the risk of getting an air-borne illness. On the other hand, when
    > travelling, you are exposed to so many different people anyway, that 12
    > people in your hostel room overnight might not be much to worry about.
    > I'm mostly interested in SARS in respect to hostel accommodation in Europe
    > and the United States. To be fair, I suppose that Europeans and Americans
    > might consider me a risk if they find out I'm from Vancouver.
    > Is SARS changing your travel plans at all? Do you plan to wear masks on
the
    > plane for routes that are not specifically Asia-related?
    > Does anyone have any facts or figures to throw at this question? Any
    > statistics about the risk of infection?
    > Traveler

I know a lot of people probably thought it was silly of me to post this
question. I have gone ahead and booked hostel accommodation for myself and
my son. However, there now is a case of a woman having exposed a hostel in
Dublin to the threat of SARS:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...088351,00.html
[snip]
In Dublin, a Chinese woman is said to be at "very serious risk" of having
contracted Sars.

The woman arrived in Dublin on a flight from the Far East last week and took
herself to the city's St Vincent's Hospital last Friday.

But she was given a surgical mask and told to return to the hostel where she
had been staying.

It was only upon reporting to doctors again on Tuesday that she was
confirmed as a suspected carrier of the virus.

[end snip]