The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued an alert "for international travelers arriving in or returning to the USA from Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China, and Hanoi, Vietnem."The CDC requests that "cargo vessels that have traveled in these areas should distribute the Health Alert Notice (reprinted below) to all crewmembers and individuals on board...."
The notice is available on the CDC site
HERE
For additional information, try the following links:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars
www.cdc.gov/travel/
(Text of notice follows)
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS ARRIVING IN OR RETURNING TO THE USA FROM HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG PROVINCE, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND HANOI, VIETNAM
TO THE TRAVELER: During your recent travel, you may have been exposed to cases of severe acute respiratory disease syndrome. You should monitor your health for at least 7 days. If you become ill with fever accompanied by cough or difficulty in breathing, you should consult a physician. To help your physician make a diagnosis, tell him or her about your recent travel to these regions and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms. Please save this card and give it to your physician if you become ill.
TO THE PHYSICIAN: The patient presenting this card may have recently traveled to Hong Kong or Guangdong Province in People’s Republic of China or Hanoi, Vietnam, where cases of atypical pneumonia have been identified. If you suspect atypical pneumonia (also being called severe acute respiratory disease syndrome [SARS]), please contact the nearest local health officer and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100) for guidance.
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