No need for panic over mystery virus, say officials

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Health officials are urging people not to panic about the mystery pneumonia virus that is sweeping through Asia but is yet to hit New Zealand.

At a media briefing yesterday, Director of Public Health Colin Tukuitonga said it was likely there would be one or two cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in New Zealand.

But there was a degree of panic creeping into the community that was unnecessary.

"Yes, there are risks and understandably people are anxious.

"But I'm appealing for people to put that in perspective.

"Be aware, know what to look out for but don't over-react."

Health Ministry staff were being swamped with calls from worried people, including universities asking if staff should wear masks when teaching Asian students.

"The answer is no.

"Nor do workers need to wear masks when sitting next to colleagues who have come back from the Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong," said Dr Tukuitonga.

Information about the virus so far suggested it could only be passed on by person-to-person contact with someone experiencing symptoms, for example handling or being exposed to mucus, urine, faeces and other bodily secretions.

This meant health workers or people living with an infected person were most likely to catch it.

However, the World Health Organisation yesterday expressed concern that water or sewage might be able to transmit the virus.

The organisation is puzzled about the spread of Sars in the Hong Kong Amoy Gardens housing estate where tenants claim they have not been in contact with each other but have become infected.

The apartment complex has been quarantined.

Dr Tukuitonga said latest figures suggested 96 of every 100 people who got Sars would recover. The four who would die would be likely to have an underlying medical condition that made them susceptible, such as diabetes.

The WHO has reported 1804 Sars cases worldwide and 75 deaths.

The Health Ministry has advised New Zealanders to postpone non-essential travel to areas affected by the outbreak.

The symptoms

* Many of the symptoms are the same as the flu but the World Health Organisation says a case of Sars must have a high fever (greater than 38C) and one or more respiratory symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and the person must have travelled to one of the affected countries in the 10 days before becoming unwell or had close contact with a confirmed case of Sars in that time.

* Headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, unexplained tiredness, confusion, rash and diarrhoea are among the less common symptoms.

* Keep up-to-date by checking the Health Ministry's website or call the free hotline 0800 080 080.