Opposition parties call for stricter control at airports

THE Government should impose stricter controls at airports to stop the killer virus getting a grip on the country, opposition parties said yesterday.

The system's failure in dealing with the SARS threat, admitted by Health Minister Micheál Martin, was symptomatic of a lack of political leadership, Labour's Health spokeswoman Liz McManus said.

"Travellers coming from high-risk areas must be monitored and screened at airports and ports and a quarantine centre for the treatment of suspected cases must be set up," she said.

However, while the minister accepted there had been a breakdown in the contingency plans' reporting procedures, he insisted that his department's SARS Expert Group had a plan in place to deal with the threat of the killer virus. EU advice suggests there is no point screening at airports, because there is a 10-day incubation period for the virus, a spokeswoman said.

Labour claimed, however, that of expert review group's recommendations that multi-lingual signs be put up in all airports and ports was not sufficient. Ms McManus called for the following steps to be taken to ensure the public has maximum protection from the killer virus:

* Setting up of an inter-departmental group to ensure full co-operation between Health, Transport, Foreign Affairs and Finance.

* A major advertising campaign highlighting the symptoms of SARS and precautions taken to avoid it.

* A review of hospital procedures or dealing with suspected cases.

* Improved reporting procedures and a programme of checks with hospitals and GPs on other possible cases.

* An urgent review of infection control facilities in acute hospitals.

* Publication of a risk assessment of the Special Olympics.

The Green Party wants Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to recall the Dáil to debate the crisis.

Mr Martin did not inspire confidence on radio yesterday and the public deserves more complete answers, Green Party health spokesman John Gormley said.