Siem Reap, June 10: A senior official of the World Health Organization warned today that SARS infections may be declining worldwide, but that won't reduce the threat of newer
and deadlier diseases.
``There is a clear and consistent downward trend in both
(SARS) cases and deaths,'' Dr. Shigeru Omi, who's regional
director for the Western Pacific, said in opening remarks to a
meeting of Asian health ministers.
``However, this is not the time to sit back and
congratulate each other. There is every likelihood that other
new diseases will emerge, possibly even more infectious and
deadly than SARS,'' he said.
The health ministers of the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, China, Japan and South
Korea are discussing common strategies for combating severe
acute respiratory syndrome while preparing countries to fight
similar epidemics in the future.
Sars has badly affected the travel industry and dampened
prospects for economic growth in the region.
More than 780 people have died from the disease
worldwide, out of more than 8,300 infections. Mainland China
and its territory, Hong Kong, have accounted for about 80
percent of the deaths since the disease broke out in southern
China in November.
Omi's warning came as Cambodian health officials
yesterday quarantined three Chinese nationals soon after they
arrived at Phnom Penh Airport with suspected SARS symptoms.
Newly installed thermal imaging devices detected that the
three men had high temperatures.
Bureau Report
