SARS ban on Games visitors

THE Government is to ask visitors from countries worst affected by outbreaks of SARS not to travel to Ireland for next month’s Special Olympic games.

Health Minister Micheál Martin said he regretted the decision, but had to act in the best interests of the nation and the athletes due to take part in the games.

The move to ban certain countries followed recommendations from the department’s SARS expert group, led by chief medical officer Dr Jim Kiely.

However, in a move criticised by some, no travel restrictions will apply to ordinary tourists and travellers from affected countries.

The travel ban will be enforced on athletes from any country which has not been completely cleared of SARS by the World Health Organisation 10 days before its team is due to travel.

Currently five countries (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan), with a total of 260 team members and back-up personnel, have not been cleared of SARS by the WHO.

Any country delisted by the WHO on time will be allowed to travel just as any additional country facing further SARS scares will be banned from attending the games.

Up to 7,000 people are still due to have arrived in Ireland for the games and will be accommodated in a number of host towns on both sides of the border.

Clonmel in County Tipperary this month drew criticism from Tánaiste Mary Harney when it asked the Hong Kong team to stay away. However, Minister Martin last night said both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste had approved of yesterday’s move: “I have considered the decision at length and discussed it with the Taoiseach who has informed the Tánaiste. They are in agreement with me that the best course of action is to follow through on the expert group’s recommendations.”

Dr Kiely said the expert group had carefully considered every option, including quarantine both in Ireland and abroad before a group travelled, but due to the likelihood of SARS scares felt their only option was to ban affected countries.

Irish Special Olympics chief-executive Mary Davies said she was shocked and disappointed, while Labour Party health spokesperson Breeda Moynihan Cronin accused the Government of blatant political opportunism and discrimination.

Ms Davies said her organisation was wondering why the Special Olympics athletes should be singled out over and above any other traveller.

“We were willing to take any measures that Government had asked us to and ready to look at every option, including a period of isolation for those who were coming, if necessary,” she said.

Although standing by the expert group’s recommendation Minister Martin said he had agreed to a request from the game’s organisers to have further submissions assessed by the expert group within a week.

Meanwhile the British Health Protection Agency last night confirmed its first case of SARS, saying that an unnamed patient had caught the virus but recovered without infecting anyone else.

Britain has three more possible SARS cases awaiting verification.