CDC Suggests Travelers Use Extra Caution Amid SARS Scares

April 22, 2003

CDC Suggests Travelers Use Extra Caution Amid SARS Scares
U.S. health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are alerting Americans to take extra care when traveling to Toronto due to recent outbreaks of SARS. However, the U.S. State Department has not issued an official travel warning for the Toronto area at this time.

According to news reports, the CDC is urging U.S. travelers to use extra caution when visiting Toronto by washing their hands frequently or using alcohol-based cleansers. Additionally, the CDC says travelers should avoid hospitals and other places where they could come in contact with people infected with the SARS virus. Travelers in Toronto are being asked to monitor their health while there and for at least the first 10 days upon return.

Official travel warnings are issued by the U.S. State Department when the organization decides, based on relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. CDC health advisories are issued separately to alert travelers of possible health-related concerns in the area.

For more information, visit Yahoo News.com and CDC.gov.