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With the eyes of the media
focused on the conflict in the gulf, the condition that has
been called “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome” or “SARS”
has been largely ignored in the West. However, in the East
the disease hits a little too close to home.
A lethal infection has
prompted the World Health Organisation to issue a global
alert to doctors and governments worldwide. According to
the World Health Organisation, as per Friday, March 28,
2003, they estimated that 49 people have died from “SARS”
and 1,323 cases have been reported worldwide.
In the latest development, the
World Health Organization directed international governments
to screen passengers arriving on flights from Singapore for
symptoms of the disease. The list included other cities
where the earliest cases of SARS occurred, including
Toronto, Hanoi, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing,
Shanghai and the Chinese province of Guangdong.
Meanwhile, increasing concern
over the virus has prompted the closure of schools in both
Hong Kong and Singapore until April 6th. The
Hong Kong government has ordered people who believe they
have been exposed to the virus to stay away from work - or
be fined or jailed. Singapore has reported its first death
from the illness, and has also announced the closure of all
schools until the same date. The Singapore Ministry of
Health has invoked special powers to keep 740 people under
home quarantine in an attempt to try to halt further spread
of the disease.
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Sars is a respiratory
illness, which generally begins with a high fever. The
fever is sometimes associated with chills or other
symptoms, including headache, malaise, shortness of breath
or difficulty in breathing and body aches.
Scientists are still trying
to confirm the pathogen responsible for the illness. Hong
Kong and German scientists say their tests strongly
suggest that it is one of the families of viruses that
cause mumps and measles. However, experts from the Center
for Disease Control in the US reported that the culprit is
a virus from the same family as that which causes the
common cold.
In view of the situation, as
a precautionary measure members of the public are advised
not to travel to the affected areas in Vietnam, Hong Kong,
Southern China and Singapore unless absolutely necessary.
Travellers returning to and from any affected areas should
seek medical advice at the Accident & Emergency Department
of the nearest hospital if they have suddenly developed a
high fever, or any other symptoms of Pneumonia.
The
public is advised should there be a need to contact the
Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health, the
numbers are 2382755, 2382041, 2382044, 2381640 ext:
7701/02, 7809/10, 7693/7686.
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