Press Release

Press Release No. 320/PHM/III/O3

No Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Indonesia

Notwithstanding reports to the contrary, Indonesia does not have any cases of SARS .The report of this disease in Indonesia derived from a World Health Organization (WHO) announcement on March 16, 2003 stating that an unconfirmed report of a single case in lndonesia was received on the 15 March. However, upon further investigation, it became clear that the symptoms of the suspected person did not fulfill the case definition. Thus, 1S of 16 March, there are no known cases of SARS in Indonesia. This was made clear by WHO announcement publicly on March 16,2003.

While this information is welcome, the Department of Health Republic of Indonesia has considered it important to take the necessary steps to alert the population of the dangers associated with such a virulent disease. For this purpose the Minister of Health has instructed the heads of health offices, hospitals, and other relevant health institutions throughout the country to look for specific criteria in a suspect case. Certain steps must be taken on the instructions of the Minister. Some of these criteria have been highlighted particularly in the case of people who have paid recent visits to countries that have effected cases of SARS as confirmed by WHO to be on the list.

n its response to the disease, the Indonesian Government has invited the various health institutions and the WHO to establish a standard of procedures to meet the problem based n WHO standards. These standards are combined with a number of adjustments to facilitate the technical management of the disease such as preventive measures to monitor traffic at all entry points. This would include the issuance of health alert cards or health alert notices at all airports and seaports. The Indonesian Government pays serious attention to the outbreak of SARS, since the WHO reported its presence in some countries which 5 of the 305 cases died in February 2003.

New York, 21 March 2003