Not A Battle Against SARS Alone But Bogus Cures Pose Another Worry
By Dk Suria Rina PHA

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bruneians have now not only to look out against getting the dreaded mystery killer disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) but they now have to battle an army of bogus sales people who came knocking offering bogus miracle cures.

A local housewife commented that as long as SARS remains a mystery to scientists in the world, there will be claims and counter claims from many "healers" everywhere that they posses the wonder drug to cure the disease that has ravaged some of the Asian and Southeast Asian countries and threatens to cut into the region's economic growth.

Chinese herbal medicine is drawing much attention as people who fear contracting the deadly virus is going to any extent to prevent them from being infected.

Many potions are being touted as cures ranging from eating sliced garlic to silkworms dipped in a cocktail of solutions.

With the spread of this new disease unabated, many so-called sales representatives are now harassing many people here trying to promote their products as cures.

Many called the Bulletin hotline to complain about the harassment. People are being approached with products, which according to them would help increase the body's resistance and stop the virus from attacking the system.

One lady, who identified herself as Nadya, told the Bulletin that she was irritated by a sales person who insisted her products would guard against SARS.

Another lady, Rogayah, told the Bulletin that she received annoying SMS stating that BIO C+, B+, Echinacea, Lecthin E, Fibre, Carotene can boost the immune system and help battle the virus.

Another lady, who also came across such fly-by-night sales persons, said people should better ignore all these products and the only way to stay out of trouble is to not visit countries that have affected by this disease. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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