SARS outbreak has many rethinking Asia travel plans

Airlines, cruise lines and tour operators are scrambling to come up with ways to let people postpone or cancel trips to parts of Asia due to the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The World Health Organization, the United Nations' health agency, yesterday advised travelers to avoid going to Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong because of a deadly outbreak of the mystery disease.

The U.S. State Department followed with a warning advising against travel to Hong Kong. A Vietnam warning was already in place, due to inadequate hospital facilities.

Some U.S. airlines said they would extend policies in effect since the Iraq war started that allow passengers with tickets to change their travel plans.

Northwest Airlines, which flies daily from Seattle to Tokyo, is allowing passengers with international travel plans through August to rebook through December without penalty.

United, the U.S. carrier with the most flights to Asia, said customers with tickets booked before April 15, for travel through May, could postpone until later this year without a fee.

The Globus and Cosmos tour companies canceled all their trips to Vietnam until further notice, and canceled trips to Hong Kong scheduled for this month and gave customers full refunds, said spokeswoman Barbara Bauerle.

The companies are working on rerouting their May and June trips to Beijing and other parts of China to avoid stops in Hong Kong, which has been hard hit.

Some cruise lines said they would reroute ships around Hong Kong; other tour companies said they planned to go ahead with trips to mainland China and normal cancellation penalties would apply.

Most types of travel insurance won't cover cancellations due to health alerts, said Dan McGinnity of Travel Guard International, a major travel insurer.

Finding out about SARS

To get the latest information on SARS and advice for travelers, check with these agencies:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Its Web site has extensive information on the continually evolving outbreak; recommendations to travelers; details on symptoms and precautions; and the number of cases in the United States. 888-246-2675, www.cdc.gov

• World Health Organization: WHO has extensive information on the disease. The United Nations agency issued a health warning urging that all but essential travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong province in southern China be avoided. www.who.int/en/

• U.S. State Department: It has issued various fact sheets on SARS; authorized the departure of nonessential staff and family members from the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong; and warned travelers to avoid travel to Vietnam because of the lack of proper medical care there due to the SARS outbreak. 888-407-4747, www.travel.state.gov.

• Public Health — Seattle and King County: For details on local precautions on SARS (and the four suspected cases in Washington state). 206-296-4600, www.metrokc.gov/health/

Other countries' warnings

Governments around the world have issued warnings on SARS:

• Canada: The federal agency Health Canada has warned against travel to Hanoi, Vietnam; all of China, including Hong Kong; Singapore and Taiwan. As of yesterday, Canada had approximately 160 suspected cases among people who have traveled to Asia or had contact with SARS cases in household and health-care settings. Toronto, with a large Asian-Canadian population, has been particularly hard hit, and there is a handful of cases in Vancouver, B.C. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also has information for travelers: www.voyage.gc.ca

• Australia: The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged Australian travelers to avoid travel to Hong Kong, nearby areas of mainland China, Vietnam, Singapore and the Canadian city of Toronto because of SARS: www.dfat.gov.au

• Britain: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised Britons not to travel to Hong Kong or China's Guangdong province: www.fco.gov.uk

Carol Pucci: 206-464-3701, cpucci@seattletimes.com

Kristin Jackson: 206-464-2271, kjackson@seattletimes.com