People worried over SARS doubt hospital capabilites

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

People in Jakarta are now starting to worry about the possible spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the city, with most people doubting whether Indonesian hospitals would be capable of dealing with a major outbreak.

Enny, a housewife, said that she was very worried about the disease. "What should I do if suddenly my husband or my children get SARS? Will the hospital treat them correctly?" Enny, who lives in Cawang, East Jakarta, said on Monday.

She doubted if the hospitals here had put special procedures in place to deal with the disease. "The government keeps denying there are any cases in the country. I think the hospitals are only prepared theoretically," she said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), SARS was first found on Feb. 26 after a man was admitted to the hospital in Hanoi with a high fever, dry cough, myalgia and a mild sore throat.

The virus, later identified as coronavirus, a common flu virus, spread swiftly across Asia and elsewhere in the world. Last weekend, several people infected with SARS were reported by Indonesian hospitals.

"I thought SARS would never come to Indonesia. But now after some people with suspected SARS have been found in the city, I am very worried. I have a newborn baby," said San-san, 26, a young mother living in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

She said that previously she had believed the announcements made by the authorities, namely that the country was safe from the highly contagious disease.

"I heard that the disease was spreading fast and was very contagious. But when the bird flu spread through many Asian countries, Indonesia remained safe. So I thought things would be the same this time," said San-san.

Sutomo Adi, a father of two and resident of Menteng, Central Jakarta, also said he was worried. "I'm not sure that hospitals in Indonesia will be able to handle the spread of the virus," he said.

With a large population, according to Sutomo, Indonesia has great potential for the virus to spread rapidly. "The government should take strict measures, like ordering people who are suspected of having SARS to be quarantined," he argued.

He said that the Singaporean government had taken the right steps to prevent the spread of atypical pneumonia, as SARS is also known.

"Ordering those who might have had some sort of contact with people who have contracted SARS to stay at home is a very good way to stop the spread of the disease. As is ordering students to stay at home," said Sutomo.

But Peter Alexander from Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, said that no such steps were necessary. "If too many precautions are taken, in the end people will not go out, and will even change their daily routines," he said.

"Taking extra vitamin C, getting enough sleep and having a balanced diet should be enough. I heard that the virus only attacks those who are physically weak," he said. "Wearing a mask like what people are doing in Singapore and Hong Kong would make me look like an idiot."