Trip home thought too risky for Asian students

By ANGELA GREGORY

Thousands of foreign students are being asked to rethink plans to go home for the Easter break as universities and polytechnics try to prevent the deadly virus spreading to New Zealand.

More than 80,000 overseas students are enrolled in New Zealand schools and tertiary institutions, almost half from China and Hong Kong, the countries worst hit by Sars.

Auckland University of Technology yesterday asked students thinking of going home to countries affected by the outbreak to reconsider and stay in New Zealand.

If students do travel to affected areas, AUT and other Auckland institutions might screen them when they return.

Sars has killed 81 people and infected another 2400 worldwide since showing up in China's southern province of Guangdong late last year.

The World Health Organisation this week urged people not to travel to parts of China or Hong Kong unless it was essential.

Most of those who have died were from the two areas, but victims have been reported throughout Asia and even in Canada.

Australia reported yesterday that it was treating three Canadian children who had arrived showing symptoms of the pneumonia-like illness.

There have been no confirmed cases in New Zealand, but worries about Sars are spreading.

Tertiary teachers yesterday called for health guidelines for institutions, saying many students were arriving from infected areas and starting classes within a day or two.

Association of Staff in Tertiary Education president Lloyd Woods said Auckland members had raised concerns that cross-infection rates in the close quarters of a classroom could be very high.

"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."

According to Immigration Service figures, almost 35,000 people from China were approved to study in New Zealand in the 12 months to this June, with another 906 from Hong Kong.

AUT yesterday said it would email all students from infected areas warning them of the risks of going home for Easter breaks.

Multilingual posters were being put up round the campus.

Derek McCormack, deputy vice-chancellor (administration), said the university was asking students to reconsider their plans and think of their own safety and the safety of friends and family.

A hotline had been set up for students to call if they thought they had symptoms of the virus.

Mr McCormack said staff were worried about catching the disease from students.

"The advice from the Ministry [of Health] is that unless the person is showing symptoms it is highly unlikely they will be infectious.

"Ninety per cent of those who became infected overseas were healthcare workers and 10 per cent family members, so it seems close contact is required."

The University of Auckland has adopted similar safeguards.

Dr Wayne Clark, director of student administration, said staff and students undertaking travel had been advised how to minimise exposure to the disease.

Medical and management staff at the University Health service had asked the ministry how lecture theatres, the campus and accommodation services should be monitored.

Sars information sheets were being prepared for staff and students.

Dr Clark said University Health was working with the International Students Office to identify high-risk individuals, and had an emergency response strategy.

Unitec is also following ministry advice and staff will look out for symptoms in students arriving from Asia.

Dealing with a Sars patient

* Suspected Sars case met at door of hospital emergency department and isolated.

* Public health officials begin "patient management", contacting people who have been in contact with the patient.

* Patient taken by ambulance to Green Lane Hospital [or the Starship for children] and isolated in a negative-pressure room.

* Infectious diseases and respiratory medicine clinicians wear "full barrier protection" - including gloves, goggles and gown - and regularly wash their hands.

* Patient on 24-hour watch and no visitors.

* Patient kept in isolation until condition improves. [No specific treatments available. Antibiotics have not been effective in treating Sars. Supportive treatment, such as providing oxygen and fluids, is the best available treatment and most people with Sars have recovered.]

* If the patient's condition deteriorated and he needs intensive care, such as assisted breathing, he would be transferred to critical care at Auckland Hospital.

Sources: Ministry of Health; Auckland Hospital; Public Health.