ASEAN is SARS Free

The first region in the world to work on a region-wide response to SARS

Following the Special ASEAN Leaders Meeting on SARS in Bangkok on 29 April 2003, ASEAN Member Countries have been working collectively and swiftly to ensure that ASEAN becomes SARS-free.

At the Special ASEAN +3 Health Ministers Meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 10-11 June 2003, the Ministers noted that three ASEAN Countries (Singapore, Viet Nam and the Philippines) have been de-listed by WHO as areas with local transmission and that the remaining seven ASEAN countries have never been listed as areas with local transmission.

In just 2 months, the Health Ministers declared ASEAN as a SARS-free region since the region is now free of local transmission and the last case isolated in the region was on 11 May 2003, more than 30 days ago. They urged countries which have issued travel advisories on ASEAN countries to withdraw such advisories.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction that a number of high-level ASEAN and ASEAN+3 meetings on labour, transport, tourism, information and health have addressed the SARS issue following the Special ASEAN Leaders Summit on SARS and the Special ASEAN-China Leaders Meeting on SARS held on 29 April 2003 in Bangkok. The Ministers reaffirmed that a multi-sectoral response was the only effective way to deal with SARS since its impact went beyond the health sector. They expressed their commitment to further work with relevant sectors in continuing efforts to prevent the spread of SARS and other infectious diseases.

Ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made and the fact the ASEAN was really the first region in the world with a region-wide response to SARS. They pledged that there would be no let-up in prevention and control measures against SARS and to maintain full vigilance and fully implement all the necessary measures as contained in the Joint Statements of ASEAN + 3 Health Ministers Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 26 April 2003; the Special ASEAN Leaders Meeting on SARS and the Special ASEAN–China Leaders Meeting on SARS held in Bangkok on 29 April 2003

In going forward, the Ministers adopted a Framework ASEAN+3 Action Plan on Prevention and Control of SARS and other Infectious Diseases with the overall objective of building the region’s capacity to respond to future outbreaks such as SARS. The Action Plan has four priority areas: measures for international travel; strengthening the regional network of SARS focal points; and capacity building for the region to respond to future outbreaks of new and emerging diseases like SARS and public education).

For more information on the Meetings and Joint Statements please visit our website: http://www.aseansec.org/your_sars.htm

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