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SARS: It won't come here if you don't go there
By Nalaka Nonis
With the mysterious killer pneumonia terrorising several parts of Asia, health authorities here are warning Sri Lankans against visiting the affected countries.
In respose many of those planning business or holiday trips to Hong Kong, China, Singapore and other countries have cancelled them.

Travel Agents Association chief Udaya Nanayakkara said cancellations were heavy.
The Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific's country manager Gobey Smith said 15% of their Colombo-Hong Kong passengers had cancelled their reservations. The calamity of the new epidemic known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). is also turning out to be a blessing for the Sri Lanka hotel industry during this New Year holiday month. Hundreds of Sri Lankans who might otherwise have gone on holiday to a nearby country are now likely to settle for local hotels.

The Health Ministry's chief Epidemiologist Dr. T.A. Kulathilake,said the best way to prevent SARS from coming to Sri Lanka was to discourage people from going to SARS affected countries.

He said the WHO had advised people to putoff all but essential trips to Hong Kong and Guangdong province in China. He said when trips were unavoidable people were contacting the Epidemiology unit to find out what preventive action they should take.
As another precaution the Health Ministry has setup a special section with intensive care facilities, incubators and other equipment at the IDH at Angoda.

All doctors have been advised to send the blood samples to MRI in cases where they have grounds to suspect SARS. Meanwhile Airport Health Officer Dr. W.A. Gamini Jayasekara, said they had advised SriLankan Airlines to be careful against boarding any passenger suspected of having SARS.

He said that it was practically difficult if not impossible to check every passenger from affected countries but the authorities here would be on full alert.

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