The team now working along with Port Health Authority Officer, Mr. Carlton Roberts yesterday comprised: Dr. Bheri Ramsarrran; Dr. Esme Joseph; Dr. Dennison Davis and two technicians from the Georgetown Hospital.

As of yesterday, and until further notice, all passengers entering the Cheddi Jagan International Airport are required to first clear with the Port Health Authority officials before proceeding to the Immigration desks.

The health officials, having interviewed and assessed the passengers, will stamp their immigration forms, after which they will be allowed to proceed to the Immigration desks.

After routinely checking on hundreds of passengers entering the port, at the end of the day, there was no case of the disease reported.

The campaign targets all persons coming into the country on international flights, and this is done through the use of posters placed at strategic places in the arrival lounge and the distribution of “SARS Global Alert” pamphlets to passengers by the health officials.

These seek to sensitize persons on signs and symptoms of the disease and called on persons having travelled to Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam, in the last 12 to 14 days, to report to the Port Health Office at the Airport in the event they experienced any of the identified signs of SARS.

The signs include:

** High fever greater than 38 degrees Centigrade

** One or more respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing.

And despite earlier fears that passengers traveling out of Toronto could be at risk, not one of the 107 passengers on board the early morning flight and scores more on the 2.00 p.m flight arriving in Guyana from Toronto showed any signs of being infected.

Last week the World Health Organization had issued a travel advisory, warning against unnecessary travel to Toronto, Canada. However that advisory was lifted as of yesterday.

A Reuters news story on Tuesday quoted WHO Director General, Gro Harlem Brundtland as saying: “We will be lifting the travel advisory for Toronto Canada, effective Wednesday. The outbreak (in Toronto) has lower magnitude than seven days ago… so there is a different evaluation one week later.” Dr. Brundtland is herself a Doctor and former Prime Minister of Norway, the Reuters report said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph, one of the doctors on the team at the airport noted that, fortunately no cases were detected, but added: “Should we have one, he/she would be put into an isolated area to be examined. Such a person would not be treated at the airport, but transported to Georgetown for immediate treatment, after which they will be put in quarantine.

Incoming passengers, and persons generally, experiencing these symptoms, are urged to contact physicians immediately, or call telephone numbers 226-1224 or the Department of Diseases Control on telephone number 226-5164, Ministry of Health.

Under the surveillance system now in place, it is mandatory that incoming persons - be they passengers, flight attendants or flight crew, go through the health officials, thence to the Immjgration desks. In the event persons fail to do so, for whatever reason, Immigration officers will redirect them to the Port Authority Health desk to have the necessary checks done.

Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs officials, as well as the “Red Caps” who are an integral part of the system designed to “keep SARS out” or reduce its spread in the event it infiltrates our ports, were yesterday actively engaged in doing their share. And they, like the doctors were also equipped with respiratory masks.

Even as masked Immigration Officers were busy checking for stamped Immigration forms, Customs Officers were busy making their routine checks before the “Red Caps”- also masked, took over to wheel suitcases and other baggage out of the airport building.

Commenting on the system, Dr.Bheri Ramsaran, Director of Regional Health Services, said that the measures are aimed at protecting, not only the passengers but staff of the flights and people within the airport as well, who might be in close contact with incoming passengers.

Dr. Ramsaaran acknowledged the cooperation of the passengers and Immigration and Customs officials, stating: “So far the Guyanese public and our visitors have been very, very cooperative. There is no sign of irritation. They fully understand that these measures are necessary and I think this is due to the awareness programmes that have been going on locally, regionally and internationally.”

He said that the Ministry of Health has been doing its best to make it known to the Guyanese that these measures are in the best interest of themselves and the nation..

The Regional Health Services Director reiterated: “So far we have not discovered any person with any sign of having to cause any suspicion.” He said that it is the Minister’s wish that this process be continued for as long as is necessary, and that Minister Ramsammy and Head of the Department of Diseases Control, Dr. Narendra Persaud would be checking on a daily basis on the international status, and reporting. Based on developments, it will be decided if or when the cooperation is to be discontinued.