Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Latest advice on SARS outbreak

30/04/2003

Following updated advice from WHO on SARS effective as of 30 April 2003, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Andrew Fraser made the following statement:

"In line with advice from the World Health Organization, UK travel advice not to visit Toronto, Canada on account of the SARS epidemic has been withdrawn from 30th April.

"This decision is as a result of a decreasing number of SARS cases in Toronto, an absence of reported SARS transmission in the community for 20 days, and an absence of new confirmed cases exported from Canada.

"Advice on travel continues to be monitored daily by WHO and the UK Foreign Office."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have regularly updates advice to travellers on its website: www.fco.gov.uk

The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health website: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/respiratory/influenzasurveillance/SARS.htm maintains an updated resource for current information on the SARS outbreak for NHSScotland

Other useful websites holding information for the public and health professionals include those of the Department of Health, the Health Protection Agency (previously known as the PHLS), the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention