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Island's SARS quarantine 'not a threat'
BBC online ^ | April 17, 2003

Posted on 04/17/2003 6:14:34 PM PDT by lainie

The decision to quarantine children who may be carrying the Sars virus on the Isle of Wight will not put islanders at risk, health chiefs say.

Around 140 students from boarding schools around the country [U.K.] who have spent half-term in Hong Kong, China and other areas affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome will be staying at an activity centre on the island.

The children are being quarantined and monitored for 10 days at the centre, which has not been identified, before being allowed to attend their schools where health checks will also be carried out.

Dr Paul Bingham, Isle of Wight Council's consultant in health protection, said: "The council has been in touch with the centre's managing director and have her assurance that children will remain within the centre the whole time of their stay as they are either continuing their studies or taking part in activities at the centre.

Risk 'negligible'

"SARS is not an easily caught illness, being spread through close contact with an infected person, and I would emphasise that the risk to the public caused by the presence of these young people is negligible."

Tourism bosses have also made a plea for would-be visitors not to be put off by the presence of the children on the island.

John Metcalfe, head of community development and tourism, said: "I would like to reassure visitors and residents that the Isle of Wight has some fantastic opportunities for relaxation and entertainment this Bank Holiday weekend as always."

Some of the pupils who arrived in Britain from Hong Kong on Thursday were also taken to a centre in Dorset.

The illness' symptoms include high fever and a sore throat, as well as a dry cough or breathing difficulties.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: sars; saywhat
Maybe I'm just not getting this. 140 children from around Britain are forcibly being quarantined on an island (as if), and said tourist spot takes it upon itself to announce, "nothing to see here. Come on out! Bring the family!"
1 posted on 04/17/2003 6:14:34 PM PDT by lainie
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To: MadIvan
ping - Is this as weird as it sounds?
2 posted on 04/17/2003 6:15:29 PM PDT by lainie
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To: lainie
...and they say we have this crap contained/isolated? We'll all eventually be exposed. IMO.
3 posted on 04/17/2003 6:24:51 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
Yeah and they say with authority, "SARS is not an easily caught illness..." Nobody can say that with certainty.
4 posted on 04/17/2003 6:36:08 PM PDT by lainie
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To: lainie
If it weren't for the war in Iraq the news media would have all of America frightened to death and not going outside, forcing the economy into a tailspin.

SARS is not highly contagious, as they have been irresponsibly reporting. It is mildly contagious. It is just that it has a 5-10% mortality rate in countries that have socialized medicine and high tourism and business travel to communist countries.

We will catch the ripples of the tsunami that will hit other countries, but we still have good ICU resources in this country.

5 posted on 04/18/2003 1:13:37 AM PDT by patriciaruth
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To: patriciaruth
But Hong Kong and Singapore have medical infrastructures that are pretty fairly sound, don't they? Or are you just saying they're overwhelmed.
6 posted on 04/19/2003 12:51:51 PM PDT by lainie
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