Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: No Travel Restrictions

April 23, 2004

According to the World Health Organization and the Chinese Ministry of Health, four persons with a clinical illness compatible with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been reported. Of these, one death has been reported. At this time, all cases appear to be linked to a laboratory infection.

Source: World Health Organization

The Public Health Agency of Canada is currently in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is aware that health authorities in China are actively responding to this incident and are working collaboratively with the WHO. The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend any travel restrictions.

The Public Health Agency of Canada routinely recommends that Canadian travellers consult their personal physician or a travel medicine clinic for an individual risk assessment prior to travelling outside of Canada.

For more information on severe acute respiratory syndrome, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's SARS web site.

For previous travel advisories regarding SARS, please visit the Travel Medicine Program's advisories Archives