The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that the nation could expect to be removed from the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) afflicted areas in 15 days.
DOH Deputy Director-General Lee Lung-teng (
PHOTO: REUTERS
"According to the WHO, if no probable cases have been reported in an area for more than 20 days, the area will no longer be listed as an affected area," Lee said.
By that standard, Taiwan will no longer be a SARS-affected area if no probable cases are reported by April 30.
Although Taiwan, the US and the UK are on the WHO's list of affected areas, the world health body distinguishes them from other affected areas because local transmission in them is limited.
According to the WHO, no evidence of international spread of the disease to these three places has been reported since March 15. No transmission other than close person-to-person contact has been reported in these areas either.
Lee said laboratory test results due soon might help determine whether the strength of the causative virus has been declining here, but he said the nation's SARS crisis could expect to be relieved in early June.
"It should be safe for foreigners to do business or travel in Taiwan now," he said, noting that the government has imposed strict measures to combat the spread of the disease.
"For example, anyone entering or leaving the country now is required to fill out SARS survey forms. We have also established standard procedures for international airlines on how to disinfect their planes," Lee said.
He called for the public not to discriminate against visitors from SARS-affected areas.
"The health of all travelers has been strictly screened before they are allowed to enter the country. There should be no concern about their health," he said.
Meanwhile, the Center for Disease Control said that as of yesterday afternoon 156 possible SARS cases have been reported, of which 23 are probable cases and 41 are suspect cases.
The center said 79 cases have been ruled out as being SARS and tests are still being conducted on 13 cases.
Eight of the 23 people diagnosed as probable cases have been discharged from hospitals, while 74 of the 156 reported cases have also been discharged.
CDC Director-General Chen Tzay-jinn (
Chen said there is still a risk of more probable SARS cases nationwide because China-based busi-nesspeople from Taiwan are permitted to travel freely between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Chen said the government would have to wait until all the probable cases have recovered before writing to the WHO to ask it to remove the nation from its list of SARS-affected areas
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