What is Health Canada doing to monitor outgoing passengers for SARS at airports?
A. On April 1, 2003, Health Canada began using Health Alert Notices (cherry cards) to inform all passengers departing from Pearson International Airport about symptoms and contact with persons with SARS. The local airport authorities have placed the Health Alert Notices and posters at strategic locations at Pearson, informing travellers who meet certain criteria (ie., they have SARS symptoms, they have been in contact with a SARS infected person in the last 10 days) to defer their flights. Airline staff are also asking passengers checking in if they have seen and read the information on the Health Alert Notices. A Health Canada SARS team of health professionals has been sent to Pearson to provide information to airline and airport staff. In very limited cases, this team will assist the individual traveller and, if necessary, arrange for the transportation of individuals to local medical facilities. These activities meet the World Health Organization’s recommendations on new measures to
