Is SARS an issue?

[Trvlr]

Has SARS been discussed at all in Thailand - in the newspapers or elsewhere? Many people here seem to think it will be back this winter - which is barely a month away. WHO is also advising flu vaccinations to keep down the incidence of SARS-type illnesses. Any special precautions being taken or recommended - short of wearing a face mask?

[PattayaPete]

Sars can not "be back" because it never was in Thailand in the first place.

 

A flu vaccination may be a good idea because far more people die from the flu every month than have ever died from sars.

[torrenova]

I came in from Hong Kong in June which was at the height of the SARS epidemic and I believe that to quell tourists' worries about SARS in LOS, the government was promising Bt2,000,000 to a Thai national who died from SARS and Bt4,00,000 to a non Thai who died.

 

I don't think anyone contracted the disease, or at least died from it, but I was stopped and checked (as was everyone) by 2 doctors in Hong Kong and about 3 in the airport in Bangkok.

[Trvlr]

Pete, your point is well taken.

It is my mistake in that I failed to clarify that the WHO assessment is not aimed at Thailand, but in general about the region, maybe even the world. Reporting in the US is very parochial, and this was simply an attempt to find out the views of people, including health officials, in other places.

I am well aware SARS did not gain a toehold in LOS - I was there in July - and I hope it stays that way. Even if it doesn't I will be there again. However, I will take sensible precautions, such as getting a flu shot (which I do every year anyway). And any others that are recommended.