DOH scales down SARS monitoring

The Department of Health (DOH) has scaled down its screening procedure for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Travelers from countries not affected by the killer disease are no longer screened for fever and other SARS symptoms at the country’s premier airports.

The DOH, however, will continue screening incoming visitors from Taiwan, China and Toronto, Canada, which were stricken off the list of SARS-affected countries only recently by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Edgardo Sabitsana, director of the Bureau of Quarantine and International Health Surveillance (BQIHS), said travelers from Hong Kong no longer have to undergo body temperature checks upon arrival at Philippine airports because the former British colony was declared SARS-free by WHO much earlier.

"Travelers from Hong Kong will only be given surveillance cards which will contain information about SARS and how to prevent infection," he said in a telephone interview.

But those coming from Taiwan, China and Toronto will still have to observe a two-week quarantine period to limit their contacts in case they develop the killer pneumonia.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit noted, however, that all outgoing passengers will be examined for fever before leaving the airport as part of the Asia-Pacific countries’ commitment during the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference held last month.

"It is our global responsibility to be vigilant and prevent the cross-border spread of the deadly disease which has affected thousands around the world," Dayrit said.

At the height of the SARS outbreak, the Philippine government had required all incoming travelers to be screened for fever upon arrival at airports. Fever is the initial symptom of SARS, along with body pain, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia, on the other hand, serves as defining criterion for SARS.

Even with the slowdown of the SARS epidemic, the DOH announced that a National Anti-SARS Scientific Convention will be held from June 30 to July 2 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. SARS experts from affected countries in Asia are expected to attend the convention where they are set to discuss guidelines, SARS epidemiology, hospital infection control, laboratory diagnosis and other medical issues about SARS.

The Philippines has recorded a total of 12 SARS cases, two of whom died while the rest have recovered from the disease. The WHO took the Philippines off the SARS list last May 21.