A virus expert said yesterday evidence from domestic health agencies that have been studying the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) indicates a new coronavirus as the likely cause of the infection.
Su Ih-jen (
"All of the agencies have detected evidence of the virus in the throat-tissue samples from infected patients," Su said.
Su reported the result in a press conference at the CDC after an interdisciplinary meeting between medical professionals convened to discuss how to contain the spread of the SARS epidemic.
"Our finding also matches the result of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC)," Su said.
He said the USCDC has also identified coronavirus as the most probable hypothesis of the cause of SARS.
Su said the CDC and the USCDC have exchanged information about results of their study of the cause of the infection on Friday.
"We have been very cautious in verifying the cause of the disease," Su said.
According to Su, the health agencies have collected throat tissue samples from 26 suspected cases to run further tests in order to confirm whether coronavirus is the cause of the illness.
Su said the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which has established standardized procedures for tests on samples from SARS patients, has also agreed to share with Taiwan all details of the procedures.
Chen Tzay-jinn (
"The virus might have mutated in some ways after jumping from animals to humans. Nevertheless, the hypothesis remains a very bold one," Chen said.
Chen said everyone entering Taiwan is now required to fill out an SARS survey form.
"Anyone who does not fill out the form will not be allowed to enter the country," Chen said.
Chen said Taiwan has sufficient isolation wards at present to accommodate SARS patients.
"However, if all isolation wards are full, the CDC will appoint certain hospitals for SARS patients," Chen said.
"The hospitals need to be in locations where the population is not dense. Moreover, all residents living nearby the hospitals will be evacuated," Chen said.
According to the CDC, 57 suspect SARS cases have been reported nationwide as of yesterday. Twelve were "probable cases" and 10 "suspect cases." The CDC said 17 reported cases were not, in fact, SARS.
"Sixteen of all the reported cases have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The 16 cases included four probable cases," said Chen.
Meanwhile, Lee Yuan-teh (
"The hospital's isolation wards are quite advanced. It is impossible the hospital turned off the air conditioning system just to save costs," said Lee.
Taiwan was not listed in a travel advisory issued by the USCDC thus far, said an official of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office Friday.
The official said his office has checked with the USCDC and was told that Taiwan is not an area it has advised Americans against traveling to because of the SARS outbreak.
The official said the USCDC advised Americans to postpone elective or unessential travel to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Hanoi because of the flare-up of SARS there but it didn't mention Taiwan.
He contradicted the report by the New York-based Chinese language newspaper, the World Journal, which said Friday that the USCDC has issued a warning against traveling to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Andrew Hsia (
Scant news of further SARS cases was being viewed cautiously in the rest of Asia yesterday as China, the new focus of a search for its origins, remained doggedly silent on the incidence of the disease within its borders.
A day after Chinese health authorities vowed to give "full and frank" reports on new and suspected cases of the mystery respiratory disease, official media appeared to have maintained its virtual blackout on news of the illness.
Reports from Singapore and Hong Kong, however, were more encouraging, with no new cases announced as major clean ups and screening and quarantine programs to halt the spread of SARS got underway.
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