ISLAMABAD, May 21: The government is contemplating to put in place strict scrutiny measures at the airports on the arrival of international passengers from the countries, falling in the yellow fever zone.

Sources told Dawn that the health ministry had submitted a summery with the federal cabinet in this regard, which the latter had discussed in its recently held meeting.

The issue has been taken up in wake of the sudden outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) in far eastern countries so that a checking mechanism could be adopted at airports.

The cabinet was informed that the yellow fever was a viral disease, which had caused epidemics in Africa and South America.

The transmission of yellow fever virus can cause an epidemic even through a single infected person.

The sources said its vector mosquito was widely present in Pakistan, which was the matter of concern for the health ministry.

The passengers travelling from the yellow fever zone to Pakistan are required to fill in the health forms, however, so far, these forms are randomly checked by the health officers at the airports.

The sources said the cabinet meeting decided that all the health forms should be strictly scrutinized.

However, the meeting was told that the random checking of forms was being done to avoid harassment to the passengers.

The sources said the cabinet had sought the health officials advice in this regard and it would take some decision in its next meeting.

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease and its severity varies from a flu-like syndrome to severe hepatitis and haemorrhagic fever. At present, the disease occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa (where it is endemic) and tropical South America. In Africa, a variety of vectors are responsible for the disease and it is in Africa where the majority of the cases are reported. Though, yellow fever had rarely attacked travellers, fatal cases had occurred in some unvaccinated travellers, visiting rural areas within the yellow fever zone.