EU scraps plan to test travellers for SARS

EUROPEAN Union health ministers have backed away from a proposal to screen travellers from areas affected by the SARS virus after taking advice from a senior UN health official.

Officials said the idea of screening incoming travellers was backed by Italy at an emergency meeting of EU health ministers, but Germany and others opposed it.

The proposal was among several laid out in draft conclusions of an emergency meeting of health ministers in Brussels called to discuss how to prevent the flu-like illness from spreading in Europe.