Passengers who have travelled to China in the last 14 days and have flu-like symptoms will be screened at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, airport authorities said today.

The move comes following the breakout of a new SARS-like virus in China which has already claimed three lives.

All incoming passengers from China would also be screened from tomorrow.

If symptoms are found in passengers, then the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) would be notified. The IECDR would then test the passengers further.

The symptoms the airport authorities would look for are fever, cough, cold, breathing difficulties and sore throat. 

The alert was issued after the civil aviation authorities met with the IEDCR representatives today.

There are fears of a major outbreak of the virus as millions begin travelling for the Lunar New Year in humanity's biggest migration.

The new coronavirus strain has caused alarm because of its connection to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.