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travelnews: Travel Alert



WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CLEARS 
SINGAPORE FOR TRAVEL

Effective Saturday, May 31, Singapore was removed from the list of areas
with recent local transmission of SARS. The change in status comes 20 days
after the last locally acquired case was placed in isolation on May 11.
The 20-day period represents twice the maximum incubation period - a
reliable indication, following established epidemiological principles,
that a chain of transmission has been broken.
In an outstanding example of prompt and open reporting, the May 11 case
was reported to WHO on the very day when Singapore was initially scheduled
to come off the list.
"From the start, Singapore's handling of its SARS outbreak has been
exemplary," said Dr David Heymann, Executive Director for Communicable
Diseases at WHO. "This is an inspiring victory that should make all of us
optimistic that SARS can be contained everywhere."
Although continued vigilance, especially to prevent the importation of
cases, is extremely important, WHO no longer recommends exit screening of
international travelers departing from Singapore. The absence of local
transmission for twice the incubation period means that neither residents
nor travelers are at risk of acquiring SARS in Singapore.



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