Mobilisation of public health expertise urged to keep SARS out

Owing to the SARS virus outbreak abroad, a huge mobilisation of public health expertise would be needed in this country to cope…

Owing to the SARS virus outbreak abroad, a huge mobilisation of public health expertise would be needed in this country to cope with the influx of people for the Special Olympic Games in June, Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind) said.

He asked the Leader of the House, Mrs O'Rourke, to take up with the Minister for Health the preparations needed to ensure that people coming here for this event could be properly accommodated. "I think that might also mean liaising with the countries that they come from. It will certainly require a huge mobilisation of public health expertise at the points of entry, when a large number of people are coming in at the same time."

Mr Michael Finucane said he supported what Dr Hayes had said about the SARS problem. He called on the Government to resolve the dispute with the public health doctors. It was vital that SARS should not get a foothold here.

Dr Mary Henry said the assistance of those doctors would be needed to deal with the SARS threat. The Minister for Health should tell the House how he intended to deal with the SARS issue and with the dispute involving the doctors, which had been going on for nine years.

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Mrs O'Rourke said the large number of people coming here for the games was a public health issue in the context of SARS. "I think it is very much worth exploring with the Minister for Health and his associates."