Defence against SARS

TRINIDAD and Tobago may consider itself lucky that the virulent influenza-like disease, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), has not as yet reached our shores, inspite of the diaspora of Trinis, our family connections across the globe and our lust to travel. But while we may be lucky in this respect, we should not be complacent about this highly contagious affliction which, after some two months of its outbreak, has hit more than 50 countries and is still spreading in the East, including China and Hong Kong, where it is taking an increasing number of lives.

There are some who believe, in fact, that it is only a matter of time before SARS makes its unwelcome appearance in TT. This feeling is based on the frequency of travel between our country and Canada which has not only the largest number of cases outside the disease's eastern origins but also one of the largest communities of expatriate Trinidadians. Also, there has been a significant influx of Chinese in TT over recent years and, although we do not have the statistics, travel between that eastern country and ours must be ongoing.

Still, whatever concerns we may have about the possibility or likelihood of this apparently dangerous disease arriving in TT, should be alleviated by the response of the Health Ministry and the measures the authorities have now put in place to deal with any such eventuality. As far as our situation is concerned, the most effective way of dealing with the global SARS outbreak was prescribed in an alert from the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (Carec) three weeks ago which pointed out that "early detection, isolation and infection control" are essential elements for halting the spread of the disease.

Based on Carec's advice, we felt it was important for public health authorities to closely monitor persons arriving in our country who may be suffering from the common symptoms of SARS, such as high fever, respiratory problems as coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. Such persons, of course, should be immediately isolated and confined until these symptoms disappear. It is good then that the Health Ministry, in co-operation with the airports and seaports authorities, has moved to set up such a monitoring system. As from today, passengers arriving in Trinidad and Tobago are required to fill out a declaration form which serves this function. They must state the countries they visited in the last 14 days, their intended address in TT and whether they are suffering from any of the symptoms of SARS. Further, if they develop any of these symptoms after their arrival, they are required to contact the nearest health facility or any of our major hospitals.

This monitoring procedure is part of the emergency response plan, devised by officers of the Health Ministry, which will affect all public health institutions in the country. It includes the setting up of holding bays to isolate suspected SARS patients and the mandatory use of protective gear by the medical staff of facilities where such patients are confined. We understand that private medical institutions will also be informed about the plan.

It seems then that Trinidad and Tobago is well prepared to deal with SARS should the disease ever be imported into our country. While we are told that the majority of persons contracting SARS recover within a week or so, the disease is clearly a far more malignant form of influenza for which there is no effective medication and which is taking a growing toll in lives in several countries. Its outbreak and fatality rate in China, in fact, are far worse than was originally reported. We have enough health problems of our own to allow SARS to add to our woes.