KARACHI, May 5: Use of clean toilets and frequent hand washing can help against the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) from patient to attendant.

This was stated by the officials of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP), during a public awareness drive here on Monday.

A PMA statement, referring to medical practitioners, stressed that there was no need to create unnecessary panic among the public.

However, they were of the view that proper procedures must be adopted at airports and hospitals for detection, quarantine and immediate treatment of the patients suffering from the disease.

It was pointed out that as most of the cases of SARS were reported among the people having prolonged and close contact with SARS infected patients, so the attendants (family members, medical staff) were especially at risk of contacting the disease.

The officials were of the opinion that such persons should take all kinds of precautions, including wearing proper gowns, gloves, masks and frequently washing hands with soap or disinfectants.

SARS, a novel viral infection, spreads through coughing and sneezing or from direct face-to-face contact with an infected person, the statement said.

The disease was characterized by cough, nasal congestion, sneezing, high fever, muscle and joint pain and breathing difficulty, it added.—APP