The Hindu : WHO clarifies on SARS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

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WHO clarifies on SARS

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 17. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said today there was no cause for panic even if a case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome had been reported from Goa.

Releasing basic information on the disease for the general public, WHO said the main symptoms were related to the respiratory tract or the breathing passages. The illness usually begins with fever, often accompanied with chills, headaches, discomfort and body aches. There may also be mild signs related to breathing passages in the beginning.

Pointing out that SARS was not as contagious as `flu', breathing difficulty and pneumonia were more common in SARS than in `flu'. So far, the disease had affected health care workers and people coming in close contact with those suspected to be suffering from SARS. There is concern that unless SARS is contained and rooted out regularly, this disease might become a continued problem. It cannot be considered a mild disease but 90 per cent of the cases do recover with proper health care without going into complications. Only 10 per cent of the patients develop severe complications such as breathing difficulty or pneumonia.

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