No danger, RITM tells Munti folk

Officials of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang assured Muntinlupa authorities and residents yesterday that there is no reason to fear an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the city.

"We are not putting the villages in danger," said RITM director Remigio Olveda yesterday. "We know the precautionary measures and we are strictly observing them and we know how SARS is transmitted."

Despite the assurances, some public utility vehicle drivers are refusing to go to the RITM. Relatives of some RITM employees have also urged their kin not to report for work in the meantime, even as a resort in Batangas has reportedly refused to take in RITM employees on an outing.

Olveda said the research center has stopped admitting patients suffering from illnesses other than SARS.

Olveda said they have moved the RITM’s emergency room to keep it away from the isolation rooms holding patients suspected of SARS.

"This is an emergency situation and we are doing our best to help," he said. "We know the procedures and we would never put them in danger."