People worried over SARS doubt hospital capabilites

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."