BY BILL BRADLEY
Although health care professionals are wearing masks and gowns at all three Sudbury hospital entrances when greeting the public, local politicians and health leaders are asking for calm and vigilance in relation to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
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The outbreak and concern about SARS caused Greater Sudbury Mayor Jim Gordon to quickly convene a special meeting about the issue on Monday for city councillors, health professionals and major business representatives.
The Mayor and CouncilÂ?s Roundtable on Community Health Issues held an initial meeting and kickoff press conference Monday morning at Tom Davies Square.
Â?Despite rumours there are no SARS cases here,Â? said Gordon.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health for Sudbury, who was fresh from meetings in Toronto, had two important messages to give to Sudburians. Â?I think that the SARS outbreak in the Toronto area is well-contained in well-contained areas,Â? she said. Â?There is not a spread into the community.Â?
Sutcliffe also wanted the public to know the entire health care community and public at lartge must remain vigilant to ensure no cases of SARS do come to this community.
Â?Part of that vigilance is staying home if you feel unwell, and monitoring your symptoms,Â? she said.
Sutcliffe stressed it is really important to repeatedly wash hands, saying itÂ?s the easiest and best way to battle SARS.
Â?ItÂ?s very simple,Â? she said. Â?Your parents told you about it, but itÂ?s one of the most important measures you can take. Hand wash with more frequency whether you are a health care worker or anybody in our community,Â?
Even though there isnÂ?t a single case of SARS or any suspected cases, local hospitals are preparing for the worst.
Â?We do have a plan in place to deal with any SARS patients we might receive in the community,Â? she said.
A spokesperson from the Sudbury Regional Hospital confirmed this.
Â?We certainly are screening people upon entry to the hospital to prevent unrecognized cases coming in and we do have emergency plans in place if we receive a patient,Â? said Loretta Bostrom, who works in public affairs with Sudbury Regional Hospital.
Employers were reminded to provide adequate hand washing facilities, share credible science-based information about SARS with health care professionals and encourage staff who are not feeling well to stay at home and monitor their symptoms.
Â?There is also a need for more dialogue and ideas from others to answer questions and identify possible solutions,Â? said Sutcliffe.
Members of the community health issues roundtable will continue to meet regularly to draw up plans should any case of the West Nile virus of pandemic influenza surface anywhere in the City of Greater Sudbury, said Sutcliffe.
