A Taiwanese researcher who was found to be running a fever when he arrived at CKS International Airport from Beijing on Saturday is probably not infected with the SARS virus, officials from the Center for Disease Control said yesterday.
However, because of unclear circumstances surrounding a recent spate of SARS cases in China, health authorities yesterday warned the public to avoid visiting certain Chinese cities, including Beijing and Anhui, where the latest SARS cases have occurred.
At a press conference yesterday morning, the center's deputy director-general, Chou Chih-hao (
When the patient, surnamed Hung, was found on his arrival at the airport Saturday to be running a fever of over 38?C, he was transferred to Taoyuan General Hospital and was put under medical observation.
"This researcher's being infected by the SARS virus can be ruled out because tests came back negative," Chou said.
Chou said the patient was to be allowed home if his body temperature remained steady until 11pm yesterday. As of press time, the patient was still in the hospital.
Six of the man's colleagues, who were traveling with the patient, were informed by the center yesterday morning that they no longer had to quarantine themselves at home. They are still required, however, to monitor their body temperature closely.
Chou said that the conference which the researchers attended in Beijing was held at a venue several kilometers away from a lab where one of China's recent SARS cases had been reported. During the researcher's stay in Beijing, none of them visited the lab, Chou said.
Chou expressed the government's appreciation for the cooperation of travelers returning from China.
"People returning from Beijing or Anhui need to pay close attention to their temperature and honestly report any fever symptoms to the center in order to ensure not only their own health but also public health," Chou said.
According to the center, all passengers returning from Beijing or Anhui will be required to complete a form at the airport. They will also be subject to daily checks by medical workers via telephone for at least 10 days to ensure that they have not developed SARS symptoms.
Due to a lack of transparent information about the SARS situation in China, center officials urged people to avoid traveling to China in order to lower the risk of being infected by SARS or other diseases.
"Especially, those who have no choice but to visit universities or laboratories involving SARS research in China need to inform the center before returning to Taiwan," Chou said.
Chou said visitors traveling to China in the near future should stay away from crowded public areas.
"If you have to enter any hospital in China, wearing a mask and taking your temperature twice a day after that is strongly recommended," Chou said.
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