Don't Panic About SARS, UK Doctors Say

LONDON (Reuters Health) - Britain's doctors have urged people to stay calm in the face of the growing SARS crisis, saying on Thursday that authorities were doing all that was needed to tackle the potentially deadly disease.

The respiratory illness has struck more than 4,200 people around the world, killing more than 250. The vast majority of these have been in Asia, although Canada has seen about 330 cases and 16 deaths.

In Britain, six suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have been reported, although elements of the country's press were filled on Thursday with dramatic warnings of a looming catastrophe.

"It is extremely important that the public does not panic over SARS," said Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, in a statement.

"The Department of Health, Health Protection Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) are taking all appropriate steps to tackle SARS."

She said the British Medical Association supported WHO advice not to travel to China, Hong Kong or Toronto, but there was no reason to close the UK's borders to keep potential carriers out.

"Such a move would also stop all commerce, imports and exports like food, and this would be a gross over-reaction to the threat."

Anyone who has returned from an infected area with flu-like symptoms should go to their GP as soon as possible, Nathanson said.

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