Health officials have scheduled a press briefing for today, following a report of 16 deaths in Canada attributed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. About 40,000 Canadians visit The Bahamas annually.
A recent World Health Organization travel alert on visiting Toronto, Canada, was criticised by the Canadian Government as an “overreaction.”
Today’s press conference is expected to convene one hour before a scheduled 48th Annual Meeting of Regional Chief Medical Officers at the Wyndham Nassau Resort.
With Minister of Health, Senator Dr. Marcus Bethel in attendance, the group will discuss how SARS has affected the world and the effects it may have on The Bahamas’ health, and tourism.
According to a Ministry of Health source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, medical personnel and administrators were working over the weekend to outline “regulations and deadlines” to be explained at the briefing.
Thus far, no cases of SARS have been reported in the Bahamas, or the Caribbean, whose tourism industries are considered extremely vulnerable to the highly contagious virus.
According to recent reports, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises have been taking the temperature of all passengers originating from Toronto, Canada or who have travelled through that city in the past two weeks.
The precaution is designed to prevent the spread of SARS aboard their ships and reduce the chance of an infected traveller taking the illness overseas.
Both cruise lines, which regularly visit Nassau, have banned passengers who have travelled to China, Singapore, Vietnam or Hong Kong within 14 days of making the trip.
The Bahamas presently requires that travellers from several “suspected areas” fill out health alert cards, distributed at all ports of entry, and also report certain symptoms.
At a recent press conference, Health Minister Bethel advised that, “There is no need for alarm in the public. Be reassured that the Ministry of Health and its various agencies are on alert, are apprised and are carrying out the appropriate surveillance programmes.”
Surveillance teams, with the collaboration of the Airport Authority, Customs Department, and the Department of Immigration are monitoring all ports of entry to arrest the spread of the virus into the country.
Some of the symptoms of SARS include a fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes with chills; headache and body aches. A cough may develop after two to seven days. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and pneumonia.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
