SARS worse than a plane crash: Flight crew<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
\"I do not believe in the medical check system at the airport.
\nThere might be someone with no symptoms at all who is actually
\ncarrying the SARS virus and might infect us on board,\" Annisa
\n(not her real name) a flight attendant with Garuda Indonesia
\nairlines told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Annisa was frightened of catching the flu-like disease while
\non duty. \"It would be better for me to be in a plane crash rather
\nthan to catch SARS. A plane crash might kill me instantly, but
\nSARS will make me suffer.\"<\/p>\n
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, has spread
\nworldwide, with 2,601 cases in 17 countries and at least 100
\nfatalities, according to the World Health Organization's latest
\nreport. It is thought that international air travel has
\ncontributed to spreading the disease from Guangdong province,
\nChina, where it is believed to have first emerged, to Vietnam,
\nSingapore, Canada and the UK, among others.<\/p>\n
Another Garuda flight attendant, Chandra (not her real name),
\nsaid that she was very worried of becoming infected with SARS.<\/p>\n
\"I've taken extra vitamins, but this is my own initiative. The
\ncompany has taken no anticipatory precautions, like providing us
\nwith vitamins and supplements, or anything else,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Chandra is now on duty in Singapore as part of her duty on the
\nJakarta-Singapore-London route. \"I'm afraid to leave my hotel,
\nunless it's absolutely necessary. The disease scares me,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, she also mentioned that the situation in Singapore is
\nnot as she had expected. \"In fact, there are still many people on
\nthe streets without masks. Those who have been infected are
\nquarantined in a separate hospital.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the director of company communication at Garuda,
\nPudjobroto, told The Jakarta Post that the flagship airline had
\nprovided dietary supplements to their flight crew, which includes
\npilots, flight attendants and ground officers, since last week.<\/p>\n
\"We have the Garuda Medical Center, where all crew members can
\nhave routine periodical medical check-ups. We have also provided
\nour crew with specific information on the disease,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"It is expected that they will be more alert. At this time,
\nthey are able to help by monitoring and paying close attention to
\nthe physical conditions of passengers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Pudjobroto also said that surgical masks and medical gloves
\nhad been prepared for flights to affected destinations,
\nspecifically to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, Guangzhou
\nand Bangkok.<\/p>\n
\"But we have not yet made it obligatory for our crew to wear
\nmasks during the flight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Medical clearance procedures will be intensified. If a
\npassenger comes down with SARS-like symptoms, we will consult
\nwith airport authorities first as to whether the passenger will
\nbe allowed to board the plane,\" said Pudjobroto.<\/p>\n
Garuda has also rescheduled its flights to the affected cities
\nbetween April 7 to May 15 due to the SARS outbreak.<\/p>\n
The Medan-Singapore route, for example, which is usually
\nserved four times a week, has been temporarily suspended. Other
\nflights through Singapore have also been reduced.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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