Collective action needed to fight SARS
By Azlan Othman

Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar

Brunei's Minister of Health yesterday urged people to be socially responsible in preventing the spread of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, which has already taken a heavy toll in life and affecting thousands of patients in several countries. Speaking to the press prior to his departure to attend today's Special Meeting on Asean Health Ministers on SARS in Kuala Lumpur, Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Seri Laila Jasa Awg Hj Abu Bakar also called on everyone to act collectively to prevent the spread of this new scourge.

The Minister's appeal to the public came in wake of the isolation in RIPAS hospital of a SARS contact on Thursday after he returned from Singapore following the death of his mother who was affected with the deadly disease.

The man is still being kept under quarantine at the isolation ward of the RIPAS hospital. In an effort to contain SARS from spreading, majority of passengers who were in the same flight with the contact case as well as those who mingled with him were already being contacted, given health advice and put under survelliance, the minister said. "Alhamdulillah, to date, he did not show any symptoms of SARS," he added.

He said the public is reminded to be socially responsible towards the rest of the community in the collective effort to avoid the spread of SARS in this country.

"Don't visit affected countries, Singapore, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Canada.

"If it is really necessary to visit these countries, the public is cautioned to be extra vigilant by avoiding crowded places, avoid mingling with SARS patients as well as those suspected of SARS and places affected by SARS epidemic," he added.

If those who return from SARS affected countries had happened to mingle with SARS patients, they must be socially responsible by immediately informing health officers to check whether they develop any SARS symptoms or not, he said.

Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar said that the special meeting in Kuala Lumpur aims at finding-out the status of SARS epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region as well as about the epidimology and aims to share information on the steps taken to contain and control the spread of SARS in respective countries.

The meeting will also hear the latest development on SARS situation from an expert from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Yesterday (25th April), senior officials from Asean converged for the SOM meeting with the main agenda focusing on preparing latest report on the status of SARS at every Asean country and share information to contain the epidemic.

China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan will also present their own report.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin