Australia prepared for SARS outbreak: AMA

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says Australia is prepared for a possible outbreak of the SARS virus.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says Australia is prepared for a possible outbreak of the SARS virus.Health authorities in Australia have been told to look out for any signs of the disease after reports of several possible SARS cases in China.Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor John Horvath, issued the warning to health authorities on the weekend. He says the risk of someone infected with SARS arriving in Australia was low and the public should not be alarmed. Dr Bill Glasson, the president of the AMA, says strict protocols are already in place to help prevent an outbreak. “All the infectious diseases centres around Australia have been notified,” he said.”Once notified, appropriate protocols are put in place to both identify suspects and obviously if anybody’s suggested that they may have made contact, then obviously appropriate isolation procedures are put in place.”The AMA is urging the public to have confidence the health system is prepared.(Source: ABC Health News, April 2004)