travelnews: Travel Alert

[Carolyn Wooley <cwooley@oregon.uoregon.edu>]

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U.S. CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION NOW WATCHING FOR SARS CASES 

An order issued by the Bush Administration gives U.S. Customs and
Immigration officials the authority to detain anyone arriving in the U.S.
if they are suspected of being infected with Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS). Customs and Immigration officers have been receiving a
crash course in physical symptoms to watch for among arriving
international passengers, such as a high fever, heavy coughing or obvious
respiratory problems. Recruiting Customs and Immigration officials to
watch for SARS cases represents an expansion of the federal government's
efforts; it already has health inspectors watching for sick passengers
arriving on flights from Asian countries where the disease has taken a
foothold.  

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control last week lifted its warning
against travel to Singapore, although it still suggests that travelers who
go there should wash their hands frequently. The CDC also noted that the
number of SARS cases in Taiwan appears to be rising, although it stopped
short of advising travelers not to go there.

However, the World Health Organization, which has its own travel
advisories, is warning travelers away from Taiwan as well as sections of
mainland China. WHO's no-go list does not include Singapore.



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