*EPF503 07/11/2003
Text: CDC Drops SARS Travel Alerts for Toronto, Hong Kong
(Travel concerns remain for Beijing and Taiwan) (500)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dropped SARS-related travel alerts for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada, July 10. CDC said it did so because more than 30 days had elapsed since the date of onset of symptoms for the last SARS case.

CDC maintains a travel alert for Beijing and Taiwan. An alert does not advise against travel, but informs travelers of a health concern and suggests precautions to take. This particular alert advises travelers to monitor their health during their visits and for at least 10 days afterwards, and to see a doctor should they develop the fever or respiratory symptoms that mark the onset of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The World Health Organization announced July 5 that the global chain of transmission for the previously-unknown disease has been broken.

Further information about SARS is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/" and HYPERLINK "http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/"

Following is the text of the CDC announcement:

(begin text)

U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
Press Release
July 10, 2003

CDC Removes Travel Alert for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada

As of July 10, 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed its travel alert for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada to reflect the changing status of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) cases reported in these areas. The alert for Hong Kong is lifted retroactively for 1 July 2003 (last case of onset based on updated research in Hong Kong determined to be 5/31). The alerts for Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada were lifted because more than 30 days had elapsed since the date of onset of symptoms for the last SARS case.

In response to the SARS epidemic, CDC issues two types of notices to travelers: alerts and advisories. A travel advisory recommends that nonessential travel be deferred; a travel alert does not advise against travel, but informs travelers of a health concern and provides advice about specific precautions. Recommendations to postpone travel or observe precautions are issued in consideration of several factors, including the magnitude of current SARS cases, the pattern of recent local transmission, and the last date of onset of cases.

Beijing and Taiwan are the remaining areas under CDC's travel alert. CDC continues to distribute health alert notices about SARS to people traveling to the United States from these areas. Individuals who travel to Beijing and Taiwan, should monitor their health while there and for at least 10 days after departure. If fever or respiratory symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath) develop, a visit to a health-care provider is strongly recommended. The provider should be informed about the symptoms in advance so arrangements can be made, if necessary, to prevent transmission to others in the health-care setting ( HYPERLINK "http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/triage_interim_guidance.htm" ).

For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm.

(end text)

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

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