Teachers call for Sars protection in the classroom

3pm

The union representing tertiary education staff wants its members and students protected from the potentially lethal severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) president Lloyd Woods said the risk of Sars transmission in the classroom was high, particularly from overseas students.

"This matter was raised by members in Auckland who pointed out that students are arriving from Sars affected areas and are starting English classes within a day or two of arrival," he said.

So far Sars has killed at least 80 people worldwide and about 2200 have fallen sick, mostly in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam, sparking fears over its transmission.

These fears prompted the Health Ministry's director of public health, Doctor Colin Tukuitonga, to this week call for a reasoned reaction to the possible spread of the disease.

Sars could only be spread through close contact, not casual contact, Dr Tukuitonga said.

But Mr Woods said the risk of cross infection was "very high" in the "close quarters" of a classroom.

"We have been advised that any one of these students could be carrying the virus for up to 10 days without showing symptoms and we are very concerned at the risk this poses to our members."

ASTE has already requested one employer implement put protective measures in place.

These include:

* that the students did not start classes until after Sars 10- day incubation period had passed;

* to provide some staff training about Sars and how to spot symptoms;

* to develop an action plan for use should a student be found to have the virus.

Mr Woods said the employer's response was to offer masks for teachers to wear.

"This seems a ridiculous solution especially given that when learning English a student needs to hear a clear voice and see the teachers's mouth," Mr Woods said in a statement.

Mr Woods was concerned at the risks to homestay hosts and other people in close contact with overseas students.

New Zealand sevens rugby coach Gordon Tietjens has also expressed his concern that not enough is being done to stop the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

Tietjens and his team arrived back from Hong Kong this week, one of the centres of the virus outbreak, after playing the Hong Kong sevens at the weekend.

Reports yesterday said one of the Fijian sevens players, Kini Salabogi, had been admitted to hospital in Fiji with a suspected case of the virus, and the French Rugby Federation has withdrawn its invitation to the Hong Kong under-19 squad for this week's world championship fearing its spread.

Tietjens was concerned there was not enough being done by New Zealand authorities to stop the virus landing on these shores.

"I thought there possibly could have been a lot more more screening done on coming back from Hong Kong, and even more so before boarding the plane," Tietjens said.

"We were issued a form when we came back in which just said there was an 0800 number to contact if you felt concerned about the Sars virus.

"Just as an example, if someone was suffering from a hangover -- how could you differentiate a hangover and coming down with a 'flu?"

Team manager Tony Ward is monitoring the team members daily and will continue to do so during the next week -- which is the incubation period of the virus.

None of the players have so far displayed any of the symptoms. Tietjens and his team took a doctor with them to Hong Kong and, after seeing the situation first-hand in the Chinese-ruled territory, were advised to take extra precautions.

"We were assured by the World Health Organisation that everything was fine but when we arrived in Hong Kong and started to read the newspapers, it was obvious it was escalating and just getting worse.

"The plane home was a real concern and a few of us wore masks through the entire trip, which we were advised to do.

"We made sure we were grouped and sitting together on the plane. Some guys were particularly uncomfortable -- it was hot and some kept the masks on through the entirety of the trip."

This tournament had been vastly different from previous years for the team -- the Hong Kong tournament is usually a happy, social event with ample festivities, but that was for from being the case this time.

"Going out every day you saw more and more people wearing masks and you heard and read about more people coming down with the virus.

"We certainly didn't mix among the people at the sevens as much as we have done in the past. We basically kept right away from them and kept within the playing areas and the changing room areas.

"We even kept away from the sponsored corporate box areas because of the number of people that were there and the more chance there was of picking up anything if you were in amongst them."

The International Rugby Board has cancelled this week's scheduled Beijing sevens tournament, part of the world series, and deferred the Singapore event set for later this month after four people died and nearly 100 have been affected in Singapore.

Tietjens was relieved with the decisions but admits he wouldn't have gone anyway.

"Personally I wouldn't have gone. There was just too much hidden under the mat in China that we didn't know about.

"You weren't hearing everything which was a real concern.

"Some of the players would have elected not to go -- the NZRFU gave us freedom of choice and if we had any concerns, we certainly didn't have to go."

- NZPA and BAY OF PLENTY TIMES