By Rosli Abidin Yahya
To allay the public fears on the
possible spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
concerned citizens said daily press briefings on the status of
SARS in Brunei Darussalam must be given.
The Ministry of Health had
actually given several press briefings and releases in the past
few days on the status of SARS in this country.
They said such tasks must be
made on a daily basis because the people are worried about their
health since there is no vaccine to counter SARS yet.
"To highlight this
potentially fatal disease does not mean 'playing or flaring up'
the issue. People have every right to be worried as SARS is
highly contagious and has caused deaths in various parts of the
world.
"We could even declare
SARS a national epidemic threat if it is necessary," they
said adding that the people's cooperation was important to stop
the disease from infecting the population here.
They said the public should not
worry too much as too many precautions would change their daily
routine. Workers would become less productive and people will
stay home all the time.
"Have faith in the Health
Ministry in dealing with SARS if the contagious disease ever
comes to this country.
"For the time being,
people should take extra vitamin C, have enough sleep and ensure
a balanced diet.
"We heard the virus only
attacks those who are physically weak. If possible wear masks
like what people are doing in Singapore and Hong Kong.
"Such precautions as well
as prayers may be enough to stay alive," they said.
They added that there are three
categories for those who have symptoms similar to SARS: alleged,
suspected or confirmed.
Alleged SARS cases are those
who return from SARS-affected countries like Singapore, Hong
Kong, Vietnam or China, and have no known history of contact
with a SARS patient, but suffer from flu or flu-like symptoms.
A suspected SARS case means the
person has come into contact with a SARS patient, but have no
specific SARS symptoms.
According to the World Health
Organisation (WHO), SARS was first found on February 26 after a
man was admitted to a 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.
They also praised the
Singaporean government for taking steps to prevent the spread of
the atypical pneumonia or SARS.
"Ordering those who might
have had some sort of contact with people who have contracted
SARS to stay home is a very good way to stop the spread of the
disease. So is ordering students to stay home," they said.
Meanwhile, the WHO has advised
travellers not to go to Guangdong province in southern China and
Hong Kong because of the deadly SARS, which was believed to be
the first travel advisory the organisation had issued without
recommending vaccination or drugs.
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