Posted on: Thursday, April 24, 2003

EDITORIAL
Japan is hardly a SARS hotbed; keep the visit

So the committee urging Asians to set aside their war fears and visit Hawai'i won't travel to Asia because of a fear of catching SARS.

We understand the House Select Subcommittee on War Preparedness' fear of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome. That would be particularly true if its members were traveling to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam or Sing- apore.

But they're not. The panel plans only to visit Japan, which had no confirmed SARS cases, though health officials were monitoring two possible cases.

By contrast, China has reported 2001 cases, with the death toll at 92. The virus emerged last November in China's southern province of Guangdong. Since then, the World Health Organization reports more than 3,900 probable cases in 25 countries, with more than 220 deaths.

It's true that any international travel in Asia carries its share of risk these days. But Japan isn't among the danger zones. Why, even Canada is a riskier destination. As of yesterday, it had reported 324 probable or suspect cases, with 14 deaths.

Let's keep it all in perspective, shall we? If we opt against flying to Japan to promote travel to the Islands, what kind of a message does that send to those thinking about flying the other way?