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To: Bucky Katt who wrote (11416)	4/1/2003 2:55:42 PM
From: Bucky Katt	Respond to of 48461

Killer virus sure to strike Australia By Tory Maguire April 01, 2003 THE deadly flu virus, which has infected more than 1600 people in 15 countries and killed at least 59, will reach Australia, the nation's top health officer said yesterday. Australia's chief medical officer Richard Smallwood said it was inevitable that at least a couple of cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome would make it into Australia. He also did not rule out risks to Australians who travelled overseas. He said people would have to make their own decision about the risks of travelling to Asian hotspots. He warned that it would be difficult to get back into Australia if they showed signs of the virus. SARS has devastated parts of Asia killing 34 people in China, 13 in Hong Kong, four in Vietnam, three in Singapore and one in Thailand. Four people have died of SARS in Canada. The virus erupted in southern China, spread to Hong Kong and has been taken worldwide by airline passengers. Hong Kong has been worst hit with authorities yesterday isolating a housing block for 10 days in an effort to contain the outbreak after 213 people on the estate were found to be infected. "I think inevitably we are going to have a case or two come in from South-East Asia but what we have is very careful border surveillance," Professor Smallwood said. "If anyone is unwell on a flight then they will be vetted very carefully by quarantine officials and public health officials. "If there is any doubt about whether they might have SARS or not, then they will be cared for appropriately and those looking after them will take appropriate precautions to protect themselves." Professor Smallwood said stringent screening in countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada meant sick Australian travellers might have to stay abroad until they were well. He said authorities in Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada would not let people board planes if they had the symptoms. He hoped similar procedures would occur in China and Vietnam. "If anyone is unwell they will not be allowed on a flight leaving that country," he said. Public health officials from all states and territories around Australia were in constant contact to discuss managing the potential crisis. "They are meeting every day, comparing notes about any potential difficulties or cases and it is a very effective communication network," Professor Smallwood said. "I think [the public] should be confident that it is under control, and I think they should be confident that the information they will get over the succeeding days and weeks will be straight information." Those who presented with the symptoms of SARS, which include high fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, would be treated in negative pressure rooms to avoid spread of infection through hospital air conditioning systems. Yesterday, the exact means of transmission was still unconfirmed but Professor Smallwood said there was no evidence it could be spread by air-conditioning. "The high chance of transmission is close personal contact," he said. news.com.au