Clark (Philippines), May 16: Asian nations are to pledge at a regional conference on Sars here to allow travel by people suspected to be carrying the deadly respiratory disease if they agree to be quarantined, officials said today. A draft resolution discussed by delegates from 12 countries on the penultimate day of the meeting says "the country of arrival should refer the individual to health or quarantine authorities for appropriate medical treatment."


The draft made no mention of the bans imposed by some countries on travellers from other countries which have suffered Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemics.

The draft resolution, expected to be adopted tomorrow, also called for a standardised "health declaration card" to be filled out by passengers before departure and upon arrival.

The card would include the passenger's name, nationality, passport number and a basic health questionnaire recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).


The resolution also called for passengers' temperature to be screened before departure and on arrival at their destinations. Those showing symptoms of Sars would be advised to postpone travel, the resolution added.

Governments at the conference are also expected to agree to exchange information on passengers to trace any who might have had contact with a suspected Sars victim.
China, Japan, South Korea and nine of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have tentatively agreed to the common standard precautionary measures at the conference held in a special economic zone north of Manila.

Bureau Report