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SARS Fears Grip Chinatown; After rumors of illness, vendors struggle
April 9, 2003
Page 1

by Loretta Chao
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

Fears over a rumored SARS outbreak in Chinatown in the last two weeks have hurt the area's economy, in what residents call a blow to the neighborhood that resembles the devastating impact felt after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Chinatown residents said they noticed a slowdown shortly after e-mail rumors circulated in late March that the owner of a well-known restaurant had died from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and that the restaurant, called Bo Ky, was contaminated. A Chinese-language newspaper investigated the rumor and reported that the owner was actually alive and healthy.

But by the time the paper published the report, business was already suffering as potential patrons heeded e-mails warnings them to stay away from Chinatown.

"Anyone can see that business has been slowing down in the past week," said Bentley Lok, a Chinatown resident and School of Continuing and Professional Studies student. "Restaurants that are usually packed and vendors on the street where lines formed around the corner have been pretty empty recently."

The number of suspected SARS cases in New York state has climbed from 11 to 21 since the beginning of April, with seven of the reported cases in New York City. The sometimes-fatal, pneumonia-like illness originated in southeast China, and has claimed 103 lives around the world since the first case was reported in March.

Chinese-language media outlets have been consistently covering the outbreak, and Chinatown residents have reportedly been buying herbs to strengthen their immune systems. But medical officials from the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Chinatown said there are no cases reported in the area.

"I don't know who spread this rumor, but it really has hurt the community," said Janet Lai, an Asian/Pacific/American studies professor who teaches a class about New York's Chinatown. "Personally, I also dislike some businessmen [who] try to advertise in the newspaper to sell masks and prescriptions. They actually have joined to spread the unnecessary fear in the community."

Fears about SARS have compounded the economic problems in Chinatown, which has yet to fully recover from the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.

The destruction of the World Trade Center, just blocks away from the center of Chinatown, had crippling effects on the community, which was completely isolated for weeks following Sept. 11. Since then, several thousand jobs have been lost in Chinatown's garment industry alone and have not been replaced.

The SARS rumor has had a similar impact on neighborhood shops.

"The restaurants [and] gift shops are also affected," Lai said. "Some owners even said that it's worse than the situation after Sept. 11."

NYU students who reside in or frequent Chinatown had mixed feelings about continuing their regular activities in the area.

Liane Quan, an NYU student who lived in Chinatown last year, said she is more hesitant to return now.

"I haven't [been there] since the news about the SARS virus," Quan said. "I'm sure there are some Chinese in Chinatown who have just come back from Asia or who have had some contact with someone [who has]. So just as a precaution, I'd rather just stay away if possible."

Xiao Li Tan, a Tisch School of the Arts senior who lives in the Lafayette Street residence hall, said New Yorkers should continue to patronize Chinatown businesses.

"Although it's a scary and deadly disease and Chinatown is seen as a place where the disease can spread," Tan said, "we have to be educated and sensible enough to keep supporting the Chinatown community.

"Because of [the Bo Ky] rumor, my friends in Chinatown are avoiding the restaurant and this just exacerbates the economic situation in Chinatown," she said.

While the age, gender, hospitalization status and travel history of the seven suspected SARS cases in the city are available from the New York City Department of Health, the location of those patients has not been disclosed, in accordance with confidentiality laws.

"Downtown residents are not more at risk than anybody else," said Sarah Robert, a health department spokeswoman. "People who travel to southeast Asia or have had close contact to patients are the people at risk."

SARS is transmitted through droplets in coughs and sneezes. The outbreak is under investigation by the World Health Organization in China.

Its symptoms, including high fever, cough and breathing difficulties, are the same as those of more common illnesses.

NYU health officials have been briefed on the signs and symptoms of SARS and are prepared to diagnose and treat any suspected cases of the illness, said Dr. Ernesto Ferran, the director of health services at the University Health Center.

Updated information is available through the health center, NYC Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization Web sites.