Date: May 2003

Since the emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), Thailand has responded by quickly adopting the effective measures against Sars, and succeeded in proving that so far there is no transmission of Sars within the kingdom.

The Thai government has launched the preventive measures and control strategies to mitigate the impact of the spread of Sars in these key areas: reducing the risk of importing Sars through international travel; intensified monitoring of travelers; strengthened national disease monitoring and control of Sars; increasing hospital capacity to manage potential Sars cases; and public information and education.

Apart from these measures, Thailand has been cooperating with 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to establish a Sars Containment Information Network. The Thai government also continues to work closely with counterparts in ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, and China, also referred to the ASEAN+3 countries, and the international community to lessen the impact of Sars that has on the region's health and economic situation while rapidly restoring international travel and business confidence in the region.

Acknowledged that international travel plays a major role in the spread of the epidemic, the Joint Statement of the ASEAN +3 ministers of Health Special Meeting on April 26, 2003 has made an agreement on the practical measures on a cross-border and international comprehensive approach based on the domestic situation of each country-member as well as their respective laws and health systems to handle with the Sars. Following such meeting, the preventive measures and control strategies focus on reducing risk of importing Sars via international travel is being adopting in Thailand accordingly:

• Airlines with flights arriving from Sars-affected areas should act upon medical screening of all passengers before check-in. Passengers with fever should be requested to postpone travel and seek medical attention. Those who have Sars-like symptoms should be referred to health-care facility on a flight, cabin crew should radio ahead and alert health authorities at their destination providing them with a copy of passenger seating list contacts for close contacts management.
  
• Travelers from Sars-affected areas are expected to pass the medical screening upon arrival at all airports, seaports, and border check-points. The screening includes reviewing a health status questionnaire and checking the body temperature of all passengers. Those with fever or symptoms which meet the Sars case definition will be provided a further medical examination and will be referred to the specially designated health care facility for proper medical treatment.
  
• Thai nationals and residents of Thailand who have returned from Sars-affected areas are advised to leave from work or school for 10 days after their arrival, observe their own symptoms and avoid close contacts with members of their family or others during this period. If work and education is inevitable, individuals must have medical check-up every 3 days to get certification indicating that they are free of Sars symptoms.

Return to: Bangkok Travel News