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Interim Travel Alert: Mainland China, Including Beijing
Updated June 25, 2003; released June 17, 2003 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is revising its travel advisory for Beijing, China
to an alert as with the rest of China to reflect the changing status of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Beijing. CDC has been working
closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to investigate cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The number
of cases of SARS is subject to change as surveillance increases and cases are identified and confirmed. The current case count for the United States
can be found at www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/sars.htm. The case count for
cases outside the USA can be found at www.who.int/csr/sars/en. CDC updates
information on its website (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm) on the
travel status of other areas with SARS as the situation evolves.
CDC has issued two types of notices to travelers: advisories and alerts. A travel advisory recommends that nonessential travel be deferred; a travel
alert does not advise against travel, but informs travelers of a health concern and provides advice about specific precautions. Recommendations to
postpone travel or observe precautions are issued in consideration of several factors, including the magnitude of current SARS cases, the pattern of
recent local transmission, and the last date of onset of cases.
SARS cases in travelers have been epidemiologically linked to travel to mainland China, where the disease is thought to have originated. CDC's
travel advisory for mainland China has been in effect since March 13, 2003. On June 17, the notice for mainland China was downgraded to an alert
while an advisory remained in effect for Beijing. In response to data received by the World Health Organization from the Chinese Ministry of Health,
CDC is making the following changes:
The travel advisory for Beijing has been downgraded to an alert because:
Currently, SARS transmission in China, including Beijing, is limited to a small number of specific settings through direct person-to-person spread
with no evidence of ongoing community transmission.
Monitoring by the Ministry of Health of China indicates that there are no new outbreaks of illness.
To view a graph of reported cases of SARS, see www.who.int/csr/sarsepicurve/epiindex/en.
CDC continues to recommend that U.S. travelers to China observe precautions to safeguard their health (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel_advice.htm). CDC does not recommend the routine
use of masks or other personal protective equipment while in public areas.
As with many infectious diseases, the first line of defense is careful hand hygiene. As a general rule, it is good practice to wash hands frequently with
soap and water; if hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rubs may be used as an alternative. Persons planning travel to China should be
aware of the current SARS outbreak, stay informed daily about SARS through the various websites, including www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars and www.who.int, and
closely follow recommended travel advisories and infection control guidance. CDC continues to be aware of limitations in medical evacuation
services for SARS patients. Travelers and resident expatriates should continue to monitor the U.S. Department of State website for updates on
availability of medical services and medical evacuations (http://travel.state.gov/medical.html).
CDC continues to distribute health alert notices about SARS to people traveling to the United States from China. Travelers to China should monitor
their health while there and for at least 10 days after departure. If fever or respiratory symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath) develop,
a visit to a health-care provider is strongly recommended. The provider should be informed about the symptoms in advance so arrangements can be
made, if necessary, to prevent transmission to others in the health-care setting (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/triage_interim_guidance.htm).
The number of cases of SARS is subject to change as surveillance increases and cases are identified and confirmed. The current case count for the
United States can be found at www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/sars.htm. The case
count for cases outside the USA can be www.who.int/csr/sars/en. CDC updates
information on its website (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm) on the
travel status of other areas with SARS as the situation evolves.
For information about infection control in health-care and community settings, see these websites: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/triage_interim_guidance.htm.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars or call the CDC public response
hotline at (888) 246-2675 (English), (888) 246-2857 (Espaņol), or (866) 874-2646 (TTY).
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