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| British government criticized as "feeble" against SARS |
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British government was criticized as "feeble" against the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) by opposition leaders and some experts.
The government is failing to do enough to protect people against the rising threat of SARS, said Iain Duncan Smith, leader of the Conservatives.
He called for new powers to be brought in so that anyone showing symptoms of the disease can be put in quarantine.
Shadow Health Secretary Liam Fox accused ministers of failing to take the right steps to protect the public.
"The government's response has been feeble and ministers virtually invisible," Fox said.
However, England's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said Britain was already taking sufficient precautions against the disease.
"We have been very very precautionary in our handling of this outbreak," said Donaldson.
So far, SARS has claimed over 250 lives around the world, and more than 4,000 cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, in Britain, there have so far been only six cases, and no deaths.
"We have had six cases - they have been detected quickly and brought under control," said Donaldson.
With about 16,000 travelers from SARS-hit regions arriving in the Britain every week, concern has been raised that screening of incoming passengers is inadequate.
Two British experts said Thursday that they felt SARS was potentially more dangerous than HIV - as it was much easier to catch.
Other experts warned against an over-reaction to the SARS threat. They are confident that Britain can cope if it is threatened by a large number of cases.
Britain have one of the most advanced disease surveillance systems in the world. It also has a network of doctors skilled in "contact tracing" which is designed to find and isolate people who have been in contact with an infectious disease victim, said infectious disease experts.
"Your chances of being sneezed on by the wrong person in the Tube are vanishingly small -- you're more likely to be knifed for your wallet," said Professor Richard Tedder, a virologist of University College London.
Sourece: Xinhua News Agency
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