Title                     

24 May 2003: Joint Press Release of the Ministry of Health and WHO-Cambodia

Announcement: SARS-No time for complacency

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Cambodia announce that a 16-year old boy admitted to Calmette Hospital on 21 May 2003 for investigation as a possible imported case of SARS has been discharged to his home. He will remain in home isolation for one week and he and his family will remain under surveillance.

The boy had been studying at Guangdong Province, China before returning to Phnom Penh.He fell ill 2 days before leaving China.

The decision to discharge the boy from hospital was taken based on clinical, laboratory, and X-Ray findings. The boy has been without fever since admission to hospital and all relevant laboratory tests are normal at the time of discharge. Tests for the virus that causes SARS conducted by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge were all negative.

Based on these investigations the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization confirm that the case does not meet the WHO definition of a probable SARS case.

WHO confirms that the isolation of the boy at Calmette Hospital was organized by hospital staff using WHO guidelines. The Hospital continues to function normally and there is no reason for the public not to continue using this Hospital as usual.

The Ministry of Health has reported the case to the WHO as a suspect case of SARS. This decision has been taken following the confirmation from Chinese medical records that the boy had fever at the beginning of his illness, information not available at the time of his admission. The WHO commends Cambodia for its appropriate management of this case, and for the transparent approach to the prevention of SARS in the country.

The WHO emphasizes that the status of Cambodia in relation to international travel remains unchanged. There is no evidence that there is or has been SARS transmission at any time in Cambodia. There is no reason to restrict travel to the country.

Keeping Cambodia free of SARS requires the cooperation of all concerned authorities, the public and travelers to the country. Screening of persons entering the country is being intensified. The Ministry of Health and World Health Organization call on all medical practitioners and the public to remain vigilant. Any person with high fever and cough and known to have been in a country affected by SARS must be reported immediately to Calmette Hospital at telephone number 012 877 877 or 023 426 948.