Fears over the spread of the deadly Sars disease have forced members of south Essex's Chinese community to abandon trips to the Far East.

They have put a hold on plans to visit relatives in Hong Kong and China as worldwide concern over the virus grows with the increasing number of deaths.

The flu-like illness is believed to have originated in the Far East, and today Tony Law, first vice-president of the South-east Essex Chinese Association, said he has cancelled a planned trip. He said: "We are concerned about our friends and relatives who live there. Equally a lot of people over here have been cancelling their trips to infected areas.

"I would have made a trip in the next month, but that's not going to happen. Most of the Chinese community in south Essex have relatives in Hong Kong. I don't think the Government is doing enough apart from telling people not to go to infected areas."

Hospitals across south-east Essex have put in place measures to deal with any cases. Consultant microbiologist Dr Lindsay Bain, of Southend Hospital, said: "So far we have had no cases of Sars, but we are confident that we have all the correct procedures in place should the situation arise."

In Basildon, although people are also concerned, they have confidence in the health service, said their MP.

Angela Smith, MP for Basildon and East Thurrock said: "My impression is that the NHS have dealt with cases very swiftly to prevent it spreading.

"People should be cautious about where they travel to. We have to get the balance right by dealing with it appropriately and proportionately and not cause undue award and panic."

Southend West MP David Amess described the situation as "very serious". He said: "China and the Chinese people are our allies and we would want to do all we can to help them. I cannot believe anyone would be that irresponsible to leave Beijing without being checked."

Published Monday, April 28, 2003

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