RAWALPINDI, April 4: All international airports and seaports in the country have been told to screen passengers for the mysterious SARS pneumonia epidemic that has killed 80 people worldwide and infected about 2,300 others in 22 countries, mostly in East Asia.

“Up to now, there has been no report of any SARS case (in Pakistan) but we need to do all to guard against it,” a health official said. The directive for screening passengers has been issued by the federal ministry of health, he added.

With the number of SARS cases and deaths from this viral pneumonia climbing, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended screening measures at airports in a bid to check its spread.

Under measures recommended, passengers suspected to be carrying symptoms of the illness are to be interviewed in order to establish whether they are infected with SARS.

The official said the health ministry was in touch with international airlines over the issue.