The Hindu : International : A beauty stands barred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

International

International

A beauty stands barred

KUALA LUMPUR: An Ethiopian beauty queen was placed under quarantine as a precaution after she arrived in Malaysia for a pageant without being vaccinated against yellow fever.

Dina Fekadu Morissa, Ethiopia's representative for Miss Tourism 2005, has been barred from leaving the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's quarantine centre since Wednesday, a health official said. "She failed to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate which is mandatory for all visitors from Africa," the official said. "She will remain in quarantine until Saturday and can go if she does not show any symptoms of yellow fever."'

Yellow fever is a tropical disease that is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. The disease can cause severe, life-threatening illness such as kidney and liver failure.

The pageant organiser, Alaric Soh, said that Ms. Morissa, a 21-year old university student, will have to skip most of the pre-competition activities, which began on Saturday with representatives from 32 nations in the eastern Sarawak State on Borneo island, the New Straits Times newspaper reported. But she could still compete in the July 23 pageant if health officials clear her. The quarantine seemed unnecessary because another competitor from Africa had landed in Malaysia earlier this week without having to produce proof of vaccination. — AP

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