Govt advises against travel to SARS-infected states

Govt advises against travel to SARS-infected states

JAKARTA: Health authorities are advising people against non-
essential travel to countries with reported cases of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an official said on Thursday.

Indriyono, the director for epidemiology, said notices have
been posted at main entry and exit points about the disease and
where cases have been found.

Indonesia has no recorded case of SARS so far.

In Asia the disease has so far been detected in Singapore,
Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and China including Hong Kong. Cases
have also been reported in North American and European countries.

Indriyono said regular information about the spread of the
disease is being communicated to entry and exit points, major
hospitals and provincial health officials.

Staff at air and sea ports in Jakarta, Medan, Bali and Batam,
an island just south of Singapore, have been warned to be more
alert in observing incoming passengers for possible signs of the
disease, he said.

The disease has claimed at least 50 lives -- 31 in China's
southern Guangdong province, 10 in Hong Kong, four in Vietnam,
three in Canada and two in Singapore. -- AFP