Materia Medica Malaysiana

Health Ministry's Eye On SARS: No restrictions on travel to China

Malaysians can still visit China as no travel restrictions have been imposed by the Health Ministry.

However, passengers on flights from Beijing and Shanghai will be screened for fever, said an official from the Ministry’s disease control division.

“They will also be given health declaration forms which require them to notify the quarantine officers at the airports if they have a fever or other SARS-like symptoms or if they had come into contact with SARS patients over the last 10 days.”

Besides that, a health alert card will also be given to passengers from Beijing and Shanghai flights.

“These cards advise them to go to the nearest hospital should they have similar symptoms showing up 10 days after their flight,” said the official, adding that passengers from other parts of China will also be given health declaration forms.

It was reported yesterday that 2,000 people from China and Hong Kong arriving daily in Malaysia are required to fill out health forms and undergo screening.

Thermal screening will be reactivated at airports and hospitals and doctors will be monitoring for symptoms of the disease.

The Ministry’s SARS office has been reopened and doctors have been told to be extra vigilant.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek announced this two days ago after China confirmed four cases of SARS and is keeping some 470 people under observation.