*EPF708 04/06/2003
Text: State Department Alerts Citizens to Thailand's SARS Measures
(Explains Thailand's procedures for international travelers) (530)

The Department of State issued a public announcement on April 4 explaining Thailand's new procedures for international travelers to protect the population from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

According to the announcement, the protective measures apply to all passengers arriving at Thai points-of-entry -- including airports -- who are traveling from, or have transited Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

According to the State Department announcement, "Thai authorities, including health care professionals, will perform a quarantine inspection of all aircraft arriving from the listed countries. All disembarking passengers and crew are required to fill out a Health Control Document prior to proceeding to quarantine inspection."

Following is the text of the April 4 public announcement from the U.S. Department of State on Thailand's measures against SARS:

(begin text)

Public Announcement
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 4, 2003
THAILAND

This Public Announcement is being issued to clarify for U.S. citizens information about the Thai government's response to the SARS epidemic. The Royal Thai Government has announced new measures for arriving travelers due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) situation. This Public Announcement expires on July 3, 2003.

The Royal Thai Government announced the following protective measures applicable as of April 3, 2003, to passengers arriving at Thai points-of-entry (including international airports in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Ko Samui) from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

These measures apply to Thai nationals and foreigners and do not differentiate between persons originating from the five listed locations and those who merely transited those countries. Thai authorities, including health care professionals, will perform a quarantine inspection of all aircraft arriving from the listed countries. All disembarking passengers and crew are required to fill out a Health Control Document prior to proceeding to quarantine inspection. Passengers and crew transiting Bangkok who elect to remain on the aircraft are exempted from the quarantine inspection.

All persons suspected of SARS infection may be isolated and quarantined for up to 14 days. The Royal Thai Government strongly recommends that Thai travelers arriving from the listed countries quarantine themselves at home for 14 days. The Thai government also urges expatriates residing in Thailand returning from any of the listed countries remain at home for 14 days. Government offices, schools, and private sector businesses are strongly encouraged to permit all employees returning from the listed countries to remain at home for the full 14-day period.

The situation in Thailand is evolving, and we expect that the Thai authorities may alter their procedures as the situation changes.

U.S. citizens resident or traveling in SARS affected areas should closely monitor the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov and the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int. for the latest information on SARS.

For further information on travel to Thailand, U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheets for Thailand, the Fact Sheet on SARS and the SARS in Asia Public Announcement, all of which are located at .

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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