SARS outbreak in Taiwan appears to be under control

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 (蘇益仁), director of the Division of Clinical Research of the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), said his institute, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) have been working to identify the cause of the disease.

"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 (陳再晉), CDC director-general, said it is possible the causative agent is a new virus that might have jumped the species barrier from an animal host to humans.

"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 (李源德), superintendent of NTUH, yesterday dismissed rumors that the hospital has exposed its staff to the risk of contracting SARS by shutting down air conditioning systems in order to reduce costs.

"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.