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Nina Varghese

CHENNAI, March 19

THE Indian traveller has never been so beleaguered. War is brewing on one side and the threat of a devastating fever on the other.

Passengers scheduled to travel this week have started cancelling their flights on West-bound sectors and have asked agents to protect their travel via the Pacific. But all is not well on the Pacific route as well.

The swift spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which caused the World Health Organisation to put out a travel advisory, has caused passengers to rethink on this route too. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines have followed the WHO's global alert and have issued travel advisories, according to industry sources.

Singapore Airlines will be taking precautionary measures for the well-being of its customers such as alerting the airlines' airport managers, check-in staff and other ground staff of the symptoms of SARS, so that passengers with flu-like symptoms are made aware of the WHO advice and strongly urged not to travel unless medical clearance has been obtained.

According to the airline's Web site, the airline is also advising cabin crew of the recommendation for the management of passengers who become ill in-flight with these symptoms. Cockpit crew have been advised that if they believe that a passenger onboard may be suffering from SARS, they should contact the relevant authorities at the next port of call so that appropriate medical procedures are immediately put in place.

It may be recalled that on March 15, Singapore Airlines offloaded a passenger in Frankfurt with a suspected case of SARS. Other passengers on the same flight, which originated in New York, arrived in Singapore and were briefed by the Singapore Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency before continuing on their journey.

The airline has said boarding may be denied to customers in such circumstances. Passengers with flu-like symptoms have been advised to avoid travel. Those who are unwell but intend to travel are advised to seek medical advice and carry a doctor's letter certifying that they have been examined and are fit to travel.

Malaysia Airlines, while following the WHO travel advisory, will provide protective masks to passengers displaying flu-like symptoms. The airline will also alert the destination airport of any passenger who develops such symptoms onboard so that medical attention can be provided on arrival.

Cathay Pacific has also posted a health alert notice at all airport check-in counters. Passengers who feel sick but intend to travel will have to produce a medical certificate on fitness to travel.

During the past week, WHO has received reports of more than 150 new suspected cases of SARS, an atypical pneumonia. Cases have been reported in China, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Due to the spread of SARS to several countries in a short period of time, the WHO issued emergency guidance for travellers and airlines.

The emergency travel advisory issued by the WHO said, at present, there are no recommendations for people to restrict travel to any destination. But all travellers should be aware of the symptoms of SARS, which include high fever of over 38 degrees centigrade, with any one of these respiratory symptoms like cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Travellers including airline crew who have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with SARS or with recent history of travel to areas reporting cases of SARS should also be alert to symptoms.

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