Students wear masks while attending a lesson at the Pui Ching Primary School yesterday. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: Many credit the city's decisive response to A (H1N1) flu to lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak. The current threat also evokes agonizing memories for those who became afflicted with SARS or whose lives were touched by it. For some the 2003 experience remains an enduring spectre, arousing feelings of fear and dread.

"I can never forget it (SARS). The recent news about the swine flu provokes my woe," said Sit Pui-yu, whose mother died of SARS.

Sit's 80-year-old mother was a patient at Tuen Mun Hospital in the ward where doctor Joanna Tse Yuen-man worked and sacrificed herself for her patients.

Sit's mother was cross-infected by the patient next to her. She died May 19, 2003, just a week after she was diagnosed with SARS.

Due to his mother's advanced years and grave condition, Sit agreed that the elderly woman should not be resuscitated.

He lives with the regret that his mother had no proper funeral. Her remains were quickly cremated as a means to prevent the spread of the disease.

"I could not even give my mother clothes. My siblings could not see her before the cremation. I feel so sorry for her whenever I hear about SARS today," Sit recalled.

Sit believes his mother died of SARS, but the death certificate do not show that as her cause of death. For that Sit bears a lingering sense of outrage toward government officials and policies.

The government's quick response on tackling A (H1N1) influenza does not relieve Sit's pain. He still believes the government is not doing enough to prevent an outbreak.

"I cannot deny the government adopts more open manner this time. Yet I'm still worried if it can handle another outbreak," he said.

Sit said the government should step up precautionary measures, such as sending medical staff to meet arriving flights to check on incoming passengers and scrutinize poultry imports from the mainland.

"No one will blame you for doing more," he added.

SARS infected 1,755 people in Hong Kong and took the lives of 299.

Sit hopes the flu emergency will quickly pass away. Even if he can avoid the virus, he cannot avoid the memories it brings back - from 2003 - and he doesn't want to think about SARS any more.

(HK Edition 05/05/2009 page1)