Madam, - Kindly allow me to comment on the Minister of Health's advice to athletes from countries where SARS has been identified not to attend the Special Olympics. As a doctor with a special interest in communicable diseases and tropical medicine, I consider that the Minister's statement is a political one and has no basis on medical facts.
Quarantine offers sufficient protection to the general population against the risk of infection, and quarantine measures should be applied in a manner that do not discriminate against any particular group. It is medical nonsense to suggest that special category athletes can communicate SARS to the general population while business people, tourists and able-bodied athletes cannot.
I understand fully that politicians must protect their political base by making popular decisions, but the World Health Organisation's brief is to protect public health and to disseminate accurate evidence based information.
The WHO does not see a need for excluding Special Olympic athletes from areas where the SARS virus is prevalent, nor do I. - Yours, etc.,
Dr VINCENT CARROLL,
MB, MPD, DTM,
Newbridge Avenue,
Dublin 4.