SARS might strike back in November: Govt

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.