The government on Friday introduced countermeasures against the mystery pneumonia-like disease called severe acute respiratory syndrome, which is rapidly spreading in Hong Kong, China and their neighboring countries.

All public health-related institutions were ordered to work in line with the emergency measures.

With the plan, 13 quarantine offices nationwide will tighten examinations for entry into the nation, ask possible germ carriers from SARS-affected countries to submit medical cerfificates and inspect air planes and vessels from such countries.

According to the National Institute of Health, those who are infected with SARS show symptoms of high fever, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties. The disease is passed to healthy people only by direct contact with a carriers