Sars now a notifiable disease

4.00pm - by SHARON LUNDY

The deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) virus has been added to New Zealand's schedule of notifiable diseases, Health Minister Annette King announced today.

The death toll from Sars worldwide has climbed to 56, with 1550 others in 15 countries already diagnosed with the disease.

At the weekend the World Health Organisation (WHO) doctor credited with diagnosing the new deadly strain of pneumonia died from Sars. Carlo Urbani, 46, died in Thailand about a month after he first spotted the atypical pneumonia in an American businessman in Hanoi in late February.

Ms King said no cases of Sars had been reported in New Zealand but it was prudent to be prepared.

"The greatest benefit from adding Sars to the schedule of notifiable diseases is that it gives health authorities power to detain and isolate someone suspected of having the syndrome," she said in a statement.

"It also means the health authorities would also have the power to isolate others in contact with the infected person."

Making the disease notifiable would put it on similar footing to the likes of hydatids, hepatitis and cryptosporidiosis. It would mean the Health Ministry could collect more detailed information, allowing it to launch education and control programmes.

Campylobacter is the most common notifiable disease in New Zealand and has been estimated to create indirect costs to the country of $40 million a year.

"We expect that if a New Zealander or a visitor to New Zealand was found to have the disease, they would willingly be quarantined to prevent the possibility of further spread but it is a good back-up to provide health authorities with the power of detainment," Ms King said.

Health Ministry director of public health Colin Tukuitonga said on Friday no cases had been reported in New Zealand.

But he warned the risk that a traveller could bring the disease into the country was a "significant threat".

WHO recommended airport authorities in infected countries screen all departing passengers.

It also recommended authorities ask the following questions:

* whether passengers have had contact with severe acute respiratory syndrome;

* whether passengers have any of the symptoms, including a high fever and dry cough;

* whether any family member had been in contact with the disease.

- NZPA