Sars in NZ inevitable but health boards ready, King says

5.00pm

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) would "inevitably" reach New Zealand and district health boards had action plans and budgets to handle cases, Health Minister Annette King told Parliament today.

Questioned by opposition MPs about the country's state of preparedness and precautions, Ms King said there were nurses at major airports checking passengers and there were enough masks in the country to protect medical personnel.

Hospitals were ready for a Sars case "which we will inevitably get in New Zealand at some stage", she said.

"Every board now has a comprehensive action plan for community and hospital care of patients with Sars and a budget to meet that action plan."

Ms King said the Nurses Organisation had told her today that nurses were anxious to provide good care and were "generally satisfied" they had the knowledge and the equipment they needed.

"Nurses around New Zealand are generally expressing satisfaction with the preparedness of hospitals," she said.

New Zealand First's health spokesman Pita Paraone wanted to know why a man who arrived in Christchurch, reported to have been "coughing his guts out", was not screened and had to admit himself to hospital.

Ms King said there had been two suspected cases of Sars and that was not one of them.

"Coughing and hacking is not, on its own, a symptom of Sars. There are other symptoms as well," she said.

So far two people have been quarantined for treatment. The first, a Dunedin man who became unwell while returning from London, Bali and Brisbane has since been discharged and cleared of having Sars.

The second, a woman who recently returned from China, was discharged yesterday from the isolation unit at Hawke's Bay hospital. She is to spend 10 days in seclusion.

Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen said yesterday New Zealanders should not panic if a Sars case was confirmed.

"It's almost impossible not to get some person coming into the country with Sars," he said.

"Proper control measures and proper quarantine measures should, with any luck, be able to deal with this particular situation."

Dr Cullen said that while the disease was more deadly than most, having killed 318 people worldwide to date, it was not highly contagious.

"It is much less contagious than for example the ordinary flu. Certainly it is highly virulent if you get it," he said.

Dr Cullen and Ms King said yesterday it was important the Government informed people about the disease so they could spot the symptoms.

- NZPA