The United States and London are now o­n the World Health Organisation's (WHO) list of areas where local transmission of SARS are occurring and the Malaysian government's decision o­n whether to impose travel restrictions to and from these two areas will be discussed at the National Committee o­n severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) tomorrow.

Disclosing this today, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said the meeting would also discuss whether passengers coming from the two areas would be subjected to screening before they are allowed to board flights to Malaysia.

But WHO has not specified which areas in US are affected, while in Britain, it is confined to London, he told reporters after visiting the Ipoh Hospital.

However he advised Malaysians to restrict travel to these areas.

Students' fears

The minister also announced that the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry will hold a joint briefing o­n Friday for members of the Private Colleges' Association of Malaysia and foreign student leaders studying in the country.

He said this is to allay fears that Malaysia is not "safe from Sars". According to him, some students are panicking over the global spread of the disease and have even been pressured by their parents to return home.

At the ministry's first Sunday briefing in Ipoh, which was also attended by its deputy director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, Chua also announced that 28 patients have been placed in isolation since yesterday.

Of these, two are classified as probable cases, eight as suspected cases, two still pending investigations, and 16 as non-Sars cases.

He pointed out that the reported cases of probable Sars occurred because individuals had traveled out of the country to affected areas.

'Imported' cases

Malaysia

has o­nly recorded four cases of probable Sars, and o­ne death, which occurred o­n March 30.

According to Mohd Ismail, all the probable cases are 'imported' three from Singapore and o­ne from China .

Up to yesterday, 183 cases have been reported to the ministry while 85 people have been placed under home quarantine.

On respiratory masks, he said that supplies to retail outlets are expected to be replenished within a week.

According to him, the masks were sold out a week ago and o­ne major international producer of the masks is o­nly able to replenish supply in a month.

Guidelines for the compulsory wearing of respiratory masks, will o­nly released after cabinet approval o­n Wednesday, Mohd Ismail added.

On his Ipoh visit, Chua said he was happy with the steps taken by health officials in the city and thoughout the country, particularly in meeting the guidelines set by WHO and in providing training to staff, down to those responsible for cleaning and disposing of gloves and masks.

Under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, treatment for Sars is free, even if patients are placed in first class wards.