Cathay clamp on suspect passengers

Cathay Pacific yesterday ordered its port managers around the world to stop passengers boarding if they showed symptoms of the illness.

The directive was issued after it confirmed with Canadian health authorities that a passenger suspected of having developed the illness had travelled on its flight CX-838 to Vancouver on March 6. The man originally flew to Hong Kong from Canada on February 19.'It is important that passengers who appear to be ill be denied boarding and referred for medical assessment,' Cathay's principal medical officer Dr John Merritt said. An airline statement issued last night said Cathay was now co-operating fully with Canadian health authorities.