A LEADING health protection expert says there is only a "hypothetical" risk from SARS in the wake of the return of 40 people to South Lakeland from a disease hotspot.

Dr Nick Gent said the health systems already in place, which had been strengthened further because of fears of biological, chemical or radiological terrorism, would cope with a threat from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Dr Gent was speaking after the return of a group from Toronto to the Manjushri Buddhist Centre at Conishead Priory, near Ulverston. They had been attending a festival event of talks, meditations and discussions in the city over Easter.

James Belither, secretary of the New Kadampa Tradition based at Conishead Priory, said they saw very little impact of the virus, which has killed more than 350 people worldwide, while they were in Canada. He recalled spotting just one person wearing a surgical mask.

Returning to Manchester Airport last week, Mr Belither did not encounter any screening, which he said he found surprising.

They had all been issued with a Health Protection Agency leaflet, which gave advice on what to do, and had not experienced any negative reaction from people in the community.

Mr Belither said: "We were not sure how we would be received when we came back but we went through Manchester Airport with no problems at all."

Everyone in the party was in good health, he said.

"It's a kind of running joke to say who's got any colds or flu, but everybody seems to be very well."

Dr Gent, who is a consultant in health protection and the team leader for the health protection agencies services in Cumbria and Lancashire, said those returning to the Manjushri centre had sought advice and acted responsibly.

There were good emergency systems set up with local doctors, hospitals and the emergency services, and these had been reinforced because of terrorism threats.

"If we have got systems in place

to deal with a potential terrorist coming in with anthrax or smallpox, you can be sure we have got

systems in place to deal with issues like SARS.

"The fact is this is a poorly infectious disease and in our experience in Western Europe, we have not seen any incidents of person-to-person spread."

Even in the infected areas, people contracting the disease tended to be health care workers or close family who had been nursing the patient, said Dr Gent.

"We would not want a case to be missed and to seed other cases in the community but it's very unlikely a case will be brought in."

Dr Gent dismissed calls for SARS to be made a notifiable disease, saying it would not add anything to their ability to cope with the virus.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins said the disease should be made notifiable, which had been done in other countries, but that people should not panic.

May 2, 2003 09:30