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| Asian leaders meet to discuss SARS |
| CCTV.COM 2003-04-26 16:04:17 |
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Asian health ministers are meeting in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to consider a series of measures including ordering strict pre－travel checks on passengers at airports and seaports in a battle to stop the SARS virus from spreading out of control.
Draft proposals put forward at the meeting for the prevention and control of SARS include calls for travel bans on suspected SARS patients and surveillance of people who have had contact with them.
In his opening remarks on Saturday, Malaysian Health Minister Chua Jui Meng warned of the possible severe consequences of the continued spreading of SARS on the world economy, "The concentration of cases in previously healthy hospital staff and the proportion of patients requiring intensive care are particularly alarming. This 21st century disease could have other consequences as well. Should SARS continue to spread, the global economic consequences could be great in a closely interconnected and interdependent world."
SARS has hit Asian economies very hard, forcing several national governments to cut economic growth forecasts. In particular, it has severely damaged the performance of businesses ranging from retail and airlines to tourism.
Also at the meeting, head of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office Shigeru Omi warned that SARS is spreading to more countries every week, and countries with SARS are experiencing great difficulty in containing the outbreak of the disease. He called on Asian countries to relentlessly search for every possible case to prevent and control the disease.
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Editor: Yang Feiyang CCTV.com
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