China launched a blitz against wildlife trade in an effort to prevent a resurgence of SARS yesterday as Canadian authorities stiffened hospital controls after paying the price for dropping their guard.
The moves came as health authorities across SARS-hit Asia began analyzing ways to prevent future epidemics with the battle to control the virus apparently nearing its endgame.
Thousands of animals have been seized at markets and ports of entry into China's Guangdong Province as authorities sought to stamp out the source of SARS.
Notorious animal markets in Guangdong, widely believed to be ground zero for the pneumonia-like disease, have been under scrutiny since SARS was linked to beasts including civets and racoon dogs, considered delicacies in China.
The crackdown follows the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to lift a travel advisory to Guangdong and Hong Kong as rates of infection from the virus plummeted.
China's government is now trying to curb potentially unhealthy practices, aware of the dangers of a resurgence in SARS or similar infections.
In Toronto Canadian health authorities were attempting to limit the damage after a fresh cluster of SARS cases emerged days after the city had toasted victory over the disease which has claimed some 700 lives around the world.
The city, which was put back on the WHO's list of SARS-affected areas Monday, has had 12 probable and 23 suspected cases since a new outbreak started last Thursday.
Thousands of people have been quarantined as a probe was underway to find out how one man was allowed to pass on the virus unchecked.
Hospitals in Toronto and the surrounding province of Ontario have now ramped up SARS prevention measures, such as ordering staff to wear double gloves, gowns and a mask.
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RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
SHOT IN THE ARM: The new system can be integrated with Avenger and Stinger missiles to bolster regional air defense capabilities, a defense ministry report said Domestically developed Land Sword II (陸射劍二) missiles were successfully launched and hit target drones during a live-fire exercise at the Jiupeng Military Base in Pingtung County yesterday. The missiles, developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), were originally scheduled to launch on Tuesday last week, after the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday long weekend, but were postponed to yesterday due to weather conditions. Local residents and military enthusiasts gathered outside the base to watch the missile tests, with the first one launching at 9:10am. The Land Sword II system, which is derived from the Sky Sword II (天劍二) series, was turned