RI has new SARS patient, govt traces his contacts

Moch. N. Kurniawan and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan

The government announced on Wednesday a second probable SARS case and has been tracing the man's close contacts to prevent any transmission of the disease.

Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi said the 65-year-old man, a native of Medan, had been receiving treatment at Adam Malik Hospital in the North Sumatra capital of Medan since April 21 due to flu-like symptoms.

"Today, our verification team confirmed that we have another probable SARS patient who just returned from Singapore," Suyudi told reporters.

Sjafii Ahmad, spokesman for the verification team, said that the man had been treated at another hospital in Medan between April 11 and April 20 due to a high fever after returning from Singapore on April 7.

Adam Malik Hospital is one of facilities appointed by the government to treat possible SARS cases.

The team declared the person a probable SARS patient as he had a fever of over 38 degrees Celsius, was coughing, and a chest X- ray showed signs of pneumonia. He had also traveled to Singapore -- one of SARS-affected areas.

Sjafii said the SARS investigating team was now tracing the patient's close contacts.

"So far, we are closely monitoring five of his family members and doctors in the hospital where he previously was treated. We are also tracing his flights, his hospital in Singapore and other close contacts," he said.

The team is now observing another person, who just returned from Malaysia and is now being treated at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital in North Jakarta after showing symptoms of SARS.

Meanwhile, Tjandra Yoga, head of the verification team said that the previous probable SARS case, who had fled to Hong Kong, was still reported to WHO as a probable SARS case from Indonesia.

"We have two probable SARS cases reported to WHO, although the first patient has fled to Hong Kong," he said.

AFP reported SARS has claimed 234 lives and infected over 4,281 people worldwide, but WHO reported only 229 deaths and 3,947 probable cases due to belated reports by national health offices.

In Medan, Mayor Abdillah instructed the municipal health office to monitor people near the house of the new probable SARS patient.

"I have asked people to remain calm despite the case, but please be aware of the possibility of the spread of SARS," he told the Post.

Abdillah gave has assurance that all SARS patients would be given free treatment at the hospital.

He also called on people to wear masks in public places and reduce visits to shopping malls, hotels and hospitals.

In a bid to prevent a SARS outbreak in the country, Tjandra Yoga suggested that the government seek international help, including establishing a joint commission to share information about SARS.

"We need to speed up information exchange with other countries particularly with Singapore and Hong Kong," he said.

Indonesia will send a delegation to a ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday and a summit in Bangkok next week, both on SARS and various joint measures to cope with the disease.