The Gujarat health department has stepped up measures at the Ahmedabad airport to tackle cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome among passengers arriving from any of the seven Far-East countries identified as sources of the virus, official sources said on Tuesday.

Acting superintendent of the civil hospital Dr Kusum Shah said an eight-member team of doctors is present at the airport to examine passengers for SARS symptoms.

Health officials have instructed the on-duty doctors and immigration officials at the airport to wear masks, they said adding passengers would have to fill a proforma giving details about their health status.

The international airport in Ahmedabad receives two to four  flights every day while handling 200-450 passengers.