The World Health Organisation has called for the screening of air passengers and other travellers from areas significantly affected by a killer pneumonia virus which is causing panic in parts of Asia.
The WHO, which announced that it was stepping up a previous travel alert because of the spread of the infection, said that passengers should be asked three questions by airport staff before being allowed to board a plane.
These were whether they had had contact with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), whether they had any of the symptoms, including a high fever and dry cough, and whether any family member had come in contact with the virus.
"We are going to step up our \ recommendations," Mr Max Hardiman, WHO project leader for international health regulations, said in Geneva.
The virus is known to have killed more than 50 people worldwide and infected more than 1,300. - (Reuters)