The World Health Organization's (WHO) Web site yesterday lumped Taipei together with Chinese regions that have reported a rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). They included Hong Kong, Beijing, the southern city of Guangdong and the northern province of Shanxi.
The WHO warned yesterday that the SARS outbreak is becoming more serious in Taipei because officials cannot trace the infection source for a large number of people -- a sign the disease is getting out of control.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
During the early stages of the epidemic, officials were able to quickly trace and isolate the infection sources -- many of whom were people who had recently visited China or Hong Kong. But SARS has begun spreading within the general community, making stopping it more difficult.
Responding to the WHO's warning, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday that the government will do its best to negotiate with the international body.
"However, our focus will be on how to ameliorate the situation. I believe if we do a good job in restraining the spread, we'll soon be removed from the list," Yu said.
Yu also called on the international body to include Taiwan in the global medical network and allow the country to share in international medical resources.
"It doesn't make any sense to exclude us from the international health community because viruses don't care about a person's age, sex, race or nationality, nor do they recognize a nation's sovereignty," Yu said.
Expert assistance
As the two medical experts dispatched by the WHO are scheduled to leave Taiwan on May 16, Department of Health Director-General Twu Shiing-jer (
"I personally would like to see the organization dispatch six more medical experts, including two epidemiologists, two virologists and two community mobilization experts," Twu said.
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Chen Tzay-jinn (
Meanwhile, the nation yesterday announced tougher measures to contain SARS such as using Global Positioning System devices to trace people under quarantine.
"Starting next week, we will trace the A-category quarantined people to prevent them from moving around and infecting others," Vice Interior Minister Chien Tai-lang (
"By installing the device in their homes and putting a band on their wrists, we will know when they leave home," he said.
Taiwanese health officials yesterday announced 23 new SARS cases -- the highest number yet for a single day in the nation.
Rising death toll
Officials also recorded four more fatalities, raising the death toll to 18.
As of Friday afternoon, a cumulative total of 895 SARS cases had been reported, including 172 probable and 272 suspected cases, according to the CDC.
A total of 10,904 people have been put under home quarantine and 3,738 of them have been removed from the list.
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