Lanka on alert for SARS
By Shanika Udawatte
Amidst reports of the outbreak of a mystery respiratory disease that is highly infectious, the national carrier SriLankan Airlines has decided not to take in passengers with severe cough and respiratory ailments, an official said.

Communications Chief Chandana De Silva said passengers who seemed to have symptoms of this killer disease would be referred to a medical centre at the Colombo Airport.

Scores of people have died in recent weeks, while hundreds have been infected in Hong Kong and other countries by what is described as the severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (SARS) -- a mysterious form of pneumonia. He said they would also keep an eye on arriving passengers who had such symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fever over 38-Celsius and other respiratory related ailments such as cough, shortness of breath and difficulty of breathing have been identified as symptoms of SARS.

A health official said no cases had been detected in Sri Lanka yet but strict precautions were being taken.

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