SARS might strike back in November: Govt

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia is on alert over the possible return of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the region in November, a top government official said.

"The WHO (World Health Organization) has warned us, and other countries, that SARS might return in November because the previous outbreak began at that time," the head of Surveillance Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health, Azimal, told The Jakarta Post.

In November of last year, SARS began to break out across the world but after about eight months the number of cases declined. It infected 7,452 people and claimed 813 lives, largely in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and Singapore.

"We maintain precautionary measures at 29 entry points around the country," said Azimal, referring to screening procedures implemented at airports, seaports, and other points of entry.

Special attention will be given to Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta, Hang Nadim airport in Batam, Ngurah Rai airport in the Bali capital of Denpasar and Polonia airport in Medan, North Sumatra.

"We are concentrating on people who are coming into the country because last time there was no chain of infection of SARS within the country" he said.

The most likely source of infection would come from those traveling from SARS-affected countries and displaying SARS symptoms, such as fever and sore throat.

"Isolation rooms, set up to handle SARS, are ready in 30 hospitals across the country. Four more hospitals will follow," Azimal said.

"While no one needs to be isolated, the isolation rooms can be used for other purposes", he added.

The SARS surveillance team, which was established at the peak of the SARS outbreak continues to operate, he said.

He also reminded people to maintain good health by consuming a balanced diet with enough vitamins.

In Singapore, The Straits Times reported the Ministry of Health in the city state had released a statement reminding all hospitals to continue maintaining precautionary measures against SARS.

Hospitals require patients to provide their travel history and general practitioners and nursing homes have been urged to brace themselves for the disease.

Last week, a SARS-like outbreak spread to a second nursing home in Vancouver, Canada. But it was confirmed not to have been caused by the SARS coronavirus, according to David Patrick, director of epidemiology at the British Columbia Center for Disease Control, as quoted by the Seattle Post-Intellegencer.

However, it is possible that it was a SARS-related virus because SARS antibodies were found in the patients' bodies.

Ann Marie Kimball, a renowned University of Washington epidemiologist, cautioned that, nobody knows if SARS will come back, or if it will come back stronger or weaker.