Southeast Asia
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | March 26th, 2003 | Trackback
The deadly flu-like disease, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), continues to spread in Hong Kong and Singapore, while a case has turned up in France as well. Scientists working to isolate the cause believe they have identified a virus related to the common cold as the culprit, but until the disease stops spreading, consider avoiding travel to Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, where four deaths from SARS have been confirmed. Almost 500 cases have been identified worldwide, with Hong Kong being the hardest hit. Most cases have involved health care workers, and the risk to travelers is minimal.
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Southeast Asia
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | March 18th, 2003 | Trackback
A mysterious flu-like disease that has spread among health care workers has killed nine people in recent weeks, seven in Asia, and two in Canada after they had visited Hong Kong. Thus far authorities have been unable to identify the disease and are calling it Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The World Health Organization issued a worldwide travel advisory to offer guidance to travelers and airline personnel, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control advised deferring nonessential travel to the countries where the disease has spread, including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The risk to travelers is minimal, but all should be aware of the symptoms: high fever, one or more respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Anyone who has been in one of these countries and experiences such symptoms should seek medical help immediately. The disease appears to be spread through close contact with an infected person, including direct contact with respiratory secretions or body fluids.
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Southeast Asia
By Larry Habegger | Permalink |
No Comments | March 11th, 2003 | Trackback
Governments in Southeast Asia are on alert for terrorist attacks sponsored by Iraq should a U.S.-led war on Iraq take place. The new alert is in response to credible threats that Iraq is planning attacks across the region in the event of war, and is unrelated to the U.S. warning that al Qaeda may try to strike at U.S. forces abroad. The threat is being taken seriously, especially in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, because Iraq launched attacks in each countryÂ’s capital during the 1991 Gulf War. These attacks were all connected to the Iraqi intelligence service. Officials are concerned that Iraq will fund local groups to carry out attacks. In the Philippines, the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf has admitted receiving funds from Iraq on numerous occasions. In recent days Iraqi diplomats believed to be intelligence agents have been expelled from the U.S., Australia, the Philippines and Romania.
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