'Sars could devastate Africa'

2003-05-07 13:40

Manila - An outbreak of Sars among poor nations in Africa could have more harmful effects than Aids, warned a disease specialist who has studied the impact of HIV/Aids in Africa.

Speaking in an international teleconference, hosted by the Manila-based Asian Institute of Management, Aids expert Dr Patrick Dixon warned that a "national sustained epidemic," could happen in Africa where countries may not have the resources to stop the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

British-based Dixon said that he was not worried about countries like China, which has had the worst outbreak of Sars.

"I'm worried about the poor nations," such as those in Africa where there are few doctors or medical facilities in remote areas, he told health professionals.

Sars had been detected in 27 nations. More than 200 people have died and more than 4 000 have been infected.

A single case of the virus has been reported so far in Africa.

A 62-year-old South African businessman died on April 29 in Pretoria, but officials there said it was due to cardiac arrest.

Dixon warned that while countries like Canada, China, Singapore and Vietnam were taking measures against the disease, the poorer nations did not have these options.

Major problem is quarantine

"Many nations have neither the technical resources of Toronto (Canada) nor the strength of government of China," he said.

Dixon warned that, while Aids had devastated some African countries, Sars infections would spread even faster, possibly doubling every three weeks.

To combat Sars, governments had to trace all those who had had contact with a Sars victim and quarantine them.

This process was very labour-intensive and could be easily overwhelming, he said.

An outbreak of thousands of Sars cases in refugee camps in Africa would make it impossible to trace the source of infections, said Dixon.

In addition, the very measures needed to fight Sars might frighten some infected people into hiding.

Might be more contagious than was thought

People in poor countries might resist being quarantined in poorly-equipped hospitals and flee their homes instead, said Dixon.

To prevent this, "those who have Sars must feel they are treated with compassion and dignity", he said.

He added that the medical community had to look at the possibility that Sars might be spread via the surfaces of objects touched by patients and even through faeces and urine.

As long as the disease was isolated to a few countries, there was still a chance it could be eliminated, he said.

But, there would be "a major risk to world health if Sars becomes established in the poorest nations," he said.

- AFX