Sars: Taiwan makes progress

2003-06-03 08:40

Taipei - Taiwan reported only one new Sars infection on Tuesday in its lowest daily increase since the island's epidemic began in earnest in April, but the crisis continued in Canada's largest city with 10 new cases of the respiratory virus and another fatality.

A World Health Organisation official said he was heartened by progress against the disease, especially in hardest-hit mainland China.

"But it's not time to think that Sars has been beaten," said Bob Dietz, the WHO spokesperson in Beijing. "No one should drop their guard yet."

The global death toll from severe acute respiratory syndrome was at least 772 on Tuesday. More than 8 300 people have been sickened by the flu-like illness since it emerged in southern China in November. Most of the victims have been in Asia.

Trade ministers of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Thailand were meeting Tuesday to endorse an emergency plan to help revive trade and tourism affected by Sars.

In Taiwan, total number of infected patients actually dropped on Tuesday by five to 679, after some patients hospitalised for Sars later were diagnosed with other illnesses. The death toll remained 81, with no fatalities reported for the sixth successive day.

The Sars epidemic in Taiwan began in earnest in late April, later than in the hardest hit places, mainland China and Hong Kong. But the island is now matching their downward trend in infections. Sars cases having fallen steadily in the past week, down from double-digit increases in earlier weeks.

But the deadliest outbreak outside Asia was still troubling authorities in Canada's largest city, Toronto, where the disease has reared its head a second time. In all, 32 people have died there.

On Monday, officials said a public review of how they handled a renewed outbreak of the illness was possible - though not a formal inquiry that would assess blame. Officials also reported another death and 10 more cases.

At least one nursing organisation has complained that authorities failed to remain properly vigilant against Sars, allowing the illness to infect health care workers.

"The public has a right to know what has gone on and goes on with respect to combatting Sars," Ontario Premier Ernie Eves said. "That doesn't necessarily mean a public inquiry."

Toronto currently has 62 probable cases of Sars with 6 800 people under home quarantine for possible exposure.

Health officials thought they had the illness under control after the initial cluster appeared in March and April, but an undiagnosed case at a Toronto hospital led to a further spread, among other patients, family members and health care workers.

Illustrating the toll Sars has had in particular on the medical community, Hong Kong said on Monday three health care workers have died in the past two days, the most recent a 30-year-old doctor - becoming the eighth and youngest health care worker to be killed by the disease in the territory. In all 282 people have died of Sars in Hong Kong.

China on Monday reported no new cases of Sars for the first time in weeks.

A Beijing court sentenced a man to six months in prison for trying to extort money from three families, saying he was part of a crime gang that needed money because of the outbreak, official Xinhua News Agency. Di Xinxiang, a 27-year-old laborer, had demanded $120 from each family, it said.

Authorities have reported several other extortion and fraud cases by criminals trying to take advantage of anxiety over Sars, which has killed at least 334 people on China's mainland. - Sapa-AP

- SAPA