Be prepared to miss out o­n the Gawai celebrations - this is a warning from the Sarawak government to Dayaks working in Sars-affected countries who intend to return home.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu said that if medical screening at major airports in the country indicated that they had Sars symptoms, they would be immediately placed under 10 to 14 days' quarantine.

"As such, you must be prepared to face this unfortunate possibility." he told reporters after launching the Sibu Division pre-Gawai Dayak celebration in Sibu last night.