U.S. COAST GUARD ADOPTS MEASURES AGAINST SARS

U.S. COAST GUARD ADOPTS MEASURES AGAINST SARS    The U.S. Coast Guard in Portland, Ore., has outlined procedures for dealing with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
   The local Coast Guard said that the master of any U.S.-bound vessel must immediately report any dangerous and contagious illnesses and deaths to the U.S. Public Health Service. In turn, the Coast Guard will notify federal and state authorities and the maritime industry.
   “We are requesting verbal verifications from masters of all vessels with port calls in, or crew change-outs from, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in the last two months for vessels we board,” a Coast Guard spokesman said.
   Coast Guard boarding officers are also asking at the gangway if there are or have been any ill crew members on board. The Coast Guard is taking the added measures of avoiding all food, drink and personal contact with crew members while on board visiting vessels.
   The port of Portland said that there have been no vessel-related incidents to date in the Portland area.