Sars isolation for Mozambique team

By Jose Tembe
BBC, Maputo

The general secretary of Mozambique's governing Frelimo party, Armando Guebuza, has been put in quarantine as part of measures to combat the spread of the virus that causes the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Guebuza is the heir apparent to President Chissano

Mr Guebuza and five other members of his party were immediately rushed to the beach resort of Bilene, about 170 kilometres north of the country's capital, Maputo, soon after their return from a visit to China, the country worst hit by the epidemic.

Health Minister Francisco Songane, says that anyone arriving from an affected country will have to spend 10 days in quarantine.

"Whoever might have been to those affected areas, when he comes back, he should immediately contact the health desk at the airport in order to be instructed in what to do," he said.

"We have to count on the responsibility of the person, his commitment, to make sure that he understands that if he does not behave that way - quarantine for 10 days - he might be disseminating the disease."

Reduced immunity

A Frelimo party source says although the Frelimo returnees underwent highly specialised tests in China with negative results, they had to be quarantined to fulfil measures established by the Mozambican health ministry for visitors or people returning home after visiting countries affected by Sars, the pneumonia-like disease which has been causing panic in parts of Asia.

Mr Songane fears that any outbreak of the syndrome in Mozambique could easily spread among the general population, given its reduced immunity to disease.

"Although we don't have any cases as yet, that doesn't mean we should just sit back and relax and see what happens around. We have to take measures."

The minister advises anyone showing symptoms of the disease to seek assistance from the health services.

The symptoms include a high fever, headaches, pains in the joints, difficulty in breathing, and a dry cough.

Provincial health directorates have been instructed to control all points of entry into the country, and assist anyone showing symptoms.