Air travel spreads SARS

Nowadays, foreign news is about two topics – the Iraq war and SARS.

About the only positive thing we can do about the Iraq war is get involved in humanitarian programs aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the war victims. But the spread of SARS should concern us all because public health is involved. Because of air travel, SARS is spreading world-wide and in record time.

From earliest times, people living in communities have had to deal with health problems. Out of this dire need to cope with this social life question, there developed the obvious need of community action in the promotion of health and the prevention of sickness. This is what the whole concept of public health is all about. Before the war, all schoolchildren were taught a subject called Sanitation and Hygiene. Today, it is simply called Health. Health is the first wealth. And it has to begin with the desire to be healthy. The beginning of health is to know the disease. Sad to say, even doctors do not know enough about SARS. Like soldiers, doctors and health officials are always equipped to fight the last war. No doctor or health official ever had to deal with SARS before.

Traditionally, the three measures most effective in minimizing the spread of infectious diseases have been – insuring that the water we drink is pure, good drainage and the proper isolation of those who have been stricken should be strictly enforced. We should remember the words of William J. Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic Foundation, "Of all cooperative enterprises public health is the most important and gives the greatest returns."

We all know that SARS spread fast because of air travel. There was a time when people were being advised to avoid travel unless necessary because of the terrorist problem. Now, we give the very same advice but add a second reason, to avoid possible exposure to SARS. In some foreign ports, almost all travelers are wearing masks to minimize exposure to SARS. SARS is the latest terror.

The defense against SARS has to start in the international airports. But it is not a simple problem. How do the airport authorities possibly know the passengers who may have the symptoms of SARS? After that, it will be the task of doctors and nurses to report patients who show the symptoms of SARS. Lastly, individuals who may have family members that have acquired the latest respiratory disease. All SARS cases should be reported to the health authorities. This is for the sake of first, the patient himself as it will ensure that he will get proper treatment, and, second, to prevent the spread of the disease.

In Singapore, nurses are having a problem. They are being ostracized everywhere because people see them as potential SARS carriers. Even SARS patients should not be ostracized. They are victims – not the cause – of SARS. Nurses who have to take care of SARS patients should be commended, not condemned. Let us not unnecessarily expose ourselves to possible SARS contamination. But let us do everything to help persons who have been contaminated by SARS.