The spread of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is forcing a number of Bahamians both at home and abroad to take significant steps to safeguard their health and avoid contracting the pneumonia-like disease for which there is no known cure.
The Bahamas Consul General to Hong Kong Freddie Tucker was scheduled to return here today because he determined that it was “unsafe” to remain in Hong Kong.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Fred Mitchell said yesterday Mr. Tucker has shown no symptoms associated with the disease, but is returning home as a purely precautionary measure.
Upon his return he will be quarantined for 10 days so that his health can be monitored, Minister Mitchell said.
Ministry of Health officials said Monday that no case of SARS has been identified in The Bahamas.
The majority of SARS cases and infections have been concentrated in Hong Kong and mainland China. Worldwide, over 300 deaths have been attributed to SARS and approximately 5,000 cases have been reported.
Of that number, 148 deaths and just under 3,300 cases have been recorded in China, located to the north of Hong Kong.
Minister Mitchell said that persons studying in countries that have been heavily infected by SARS should also remain vigilant in safeguarding their health.
“I would say to all Bahamian students that really this is a question of a judgement they must make in their own interest,” Minister Mitchell said. “If they deem it to be unsafe in the areas that they are they should return [home] and the appropriate quarantine measures should be taken.”
Fear of the fatal virus, which has a mortality rate of 6 percent, has also spread to The Bahamas.
“I think we have to be very much concerned about SARS,” said Ken Seymour, a taxi driver who operates from Bay Street. “A country such as ours that caters to people from all over the world – places such as North America, Japan and China – has to be very concerned.”
Others agreed.
“If SARS spreads to The Bahamas we’ll be in big trouble,” said Cicely Stubbs, a sales clerk in a downtown clothing store.
Ms. Stubbs added that the disease would be a great concern for the country not only because of the tourism revenue that would possibly be lost if there were a SARS outbreak and travelers became fearful of visiting the country, but also because of the health concerns for citizens.
“We have to look out for our own safety before we can think about anything else,” Ms. Stubbs said. “If SARS spreads to The Bahamas it [would] be a major concern not just because of the tourist-based economy but because of the threat to our lives.”
Regional leaders have also expressed concern that travel advisories issued by organisations such as the World Health Organisation to help curb the spread of SARS could be detrimental to the region’s tourism industry if such an advisory were ever issued against travel to the Caribbean.
Chief Medical Officers from throughout the Caribbean community are meeting in Nassau this week to address a number of health concerns facing the region. Strategies to prevent an outbreak of SARS in the region topped their agenda.
By Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
