SINGAPORE - Singapore and Malaysia expect to draw up a common protocol in referring suspected Sars cases travelling in both countries and share information o­n these people as they moved to strengthen cooperation to contain the spread of the disease.

The details were discussed during a meeting yesterday of health, immigration and other officials from the Singapore-Malaysia technical working group o­n Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) in Johor.

A joint statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Health and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said both sides "decided to adopt a common protocol o­n the referral of suspected Sars travellers" o­n their common border.

They also proposed to promptly share information such as the name, identity card numbers and travel history of all probable and suspected Sars cases, said the statement issued late yesterday.

Regional meeting planned

Singapore and Malaysian officials also discussed possible measures such as carrying out pre-departure checks for passengers in both countries and the monitoring of temperatures for all arriving and departing passengers at land, sea and airport checkpoints.

Temperature monitoring is important in fighting the spread of Sars because fever is its initial symptom and those who are feverish are infectious.

Southeast Asian leaders will meet in Thailand later this month to discuss ways of preventing the spread of the disease in the region.

Meanwhile, Singapore health authorities announced six more Sars cases, bringing the number of people affected with the sometimes fatal pneumonia-like disease to 184, with the death toll remaining at 14.

Three of the new cases are the grandchildren -- aged four, eight and nine -- of a 72-year-old confirmed case who worked at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, Singapore's main vegetable distribution facility. More than 100 people have recovered.

Strict measures for MPs

Authorities have shut down the vegetable market for 10 days and were serving quarantine orders to about 2,400 people who may have been exposed to the sick worker.

Singapore's parliament, which sits o­n Thursday, has instituted strict measures for MPs, staff and visitors.

MPs were advised to excuse themselves from the session if they have a fever and other Sars symptoms, had contacts with probable or suspect cases or if they or an immediate family member had travelled to Toronto, Hanoi, Taiwan, Hong Kong or China in the past two weeks.

Members were also advised to take their temperatures before attending the session.

All visitors to parliament will have their temperatures taken and be required to fill in a health declaration form. AFP