The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Friday South Korea, Japan, China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will work together to contain the spread of SARS.

The ministry said a communique of cooperation was released following a meeting between health authorities from 13 countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Participants concurred on taking steps to prevent people displaying symptoms of the disease from leaving their countries. The measures will be applied to those taking planes or crossing borders using other means of transportation.

A government source said that the authorities reached an understanding that everyone leaving these countries will be examined by medical personnel to determine whether they have contracted SARS.