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Italy tightens SARS measures over concern for elderly Yahoo
News, May 9, 2003
ROME
- Italy is to step up measures to prevent the spread of SARS to protect
its sizeable elderly. "The figures are alarming, and if we don't act
now we're in danger of a pandemic," Sirchia told daily newspaper La
Stampa Friday. Italian
society was particularly vulnerable to the pneumonia-like virus, he said,
"because around 20 percent of the population is elderly". Italy
has so far reported nine suspected cases of SARS, five of whom have made
full recoveries. Europe
as a whole has so far recorded no deaths from an illness that has infected
more than 7,000 people and killed more than 500 around the world, mainly
in China and Hong Kong. The
Italian minister said the government would "act quickly" to
institute its emergency plan before the first autumnal chills arrive,
bringing with them an increase in flu cases and other ailments,
particularly among the elderly. Under
the plan, regional health authorities and family doctors will be given key
roles in the early detection and reporting of any cases of the disease. There
will be regular reviews of the already strict prevention measures in place
at Italian airports, where passengers arriving from affected regions are
subject to routine temperature checks. The
World Health Organisation on Thursday tripled its estimated SARS mortality
rate to 14-15 percent overall, but said the disease was fatal for one in
every two patients aged over 65. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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