Kazakh Prime Minister Imanghaliy Tasmaghambetov on 5 May ordered that Kazakhstan\'s border with China be closed until 20 May to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Interfax-Kazakhstan reported the same day. He also instructed the Foreign Ministry to bring the families of staff members at the Kazakh Embassy in Beijing and other Kazakh citizens back to Kazakhstan until the health situation in China normalizes. Several ministries were told to compile a list of Kazakh citizens registered with the Kazakh Embassy in Beijing and submit it to the Health Ministry within three days so that an organized return home can be organized. Regular air, rail, and road communications with China will be suspended within three days, although flights bringing Kazakh citizens home from China will reportedly not be affected. Tasmaghambetov also ordered the suspension of tourist trips to China. Kazakhstan has not registered any SARS cases, but has had at least one SARS scare. (Interfax-Kazakhstan)