May 15, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, May 14: President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Osman Khalid Waheed on Wednesday urged the citizens in general and businessmen in particular to avoid visiting East Asian countries unless it was absolutely unavoidable.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the RCCI, ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) — Threats and Precautions’, he said: “Businessmen going on short trips to the region and staying at low-budget hotels should take extra precautions and also take their own towels, cutlery and sheets.”

He said businessmen, during their visit, should wear masks, keep alcoholic disinfectant handwipes and wash their hands frequently with a disinfectant.

The RCCI president said since there was no effective drug or vaccine, the most effective method for combating the problem was the rapid identification of cases, their appropriate management, including isolation of suspects and probable cases and their close contacts.

Sars has had devastating effects on the East Asian economies, he said. Travel and tourism to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore have virtually come to a standstill and trade and commerce has also been irreparably affected in these countries, he added.

Responding to criticism of ‘over-reaction’ to Sars problem currently non-existent in the country, Mr Waheed said: “Prevention is critical as our country would not have resources to control the disease if it would be allowed to enter Pakistan and spread.”

On this occasion, Dr Bangash explained the etiology of Sars, which was a derivative of Corona virus causative agent for common cold. The virus originated from Guangdong province of China and has caused 573 deaths so far.

Over 90 per cent of the cases, he informed the audience, originated from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

The main symptoms, he said were fever, shortness of breath, and the determining factor was a recent visit to the affected country or interaction with a Sars patient.