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Singapore quarantines 2,500 over SARS fearsChina cases mount; Toronto commuters warned
SINGAPORE (CNN) -- Singapore's Ministry of Health has closed a leading wholesale vegetable market and quarantined all 2,500 employees because of concerns they may have been exposed to the virus that causes SARS. Three cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome have been reported at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Center, leading the ministry to order workers to go home for 10 days as a precaution, according to a statement released Sunday. The market will be closed during the quarantine. The Ministry of National Development predicted "a significant disruption of vegetable supply," but said on its Web site the government was working to increase supplies from other sources. Health officials urged anyone who visited the market between April 5 and Saturday to contact a special SARS hotline if they experience symptoms of the disease, which include fever, muscle ache, and coughing or difficulty in breathing, so they can be screened for the disease. The time from exposure to development of symptoms appears to range from two to 10 days, health officials said. Singapore said it will provide financial assistance to people given home quarantine orders. Violators could be jailed or fined, the statement said. Singapore's travel and hospitality industries have been particularly hard-hit because of a slump in tourism. The government has announced a $230 million relief package to help offset the losses caused by SARS. Singapore has 178 cases of SARS, and 16 people have died of the ailment, according to the World Health Organization. The number of cases reported worldwide is 3,861, and 217 people in 25 countries have died. China reports 194 new casesChinese health officials Monday reported 194 new confirmed cases of SARS. The Chinese Ministry of Health said 2,001 cases have been confirmed in mainland China, up from 1,807 Sunday. Hundreds more are suspected of being infected. Thirteen additional deaths have also been reported in the country, bringing China's death toll to 92. China's health minister and the mayor of Beijing were both released from their jobs after officials announced a dramatic increase in cases of the deadly disease in the country, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Moving to try and contain the SARS outbreak from spreading further around the country, Beijing announced Sunday it was canceling the popular "Golden Week" holiday "to avoid the nationwide movement of the masses to prevent the further spread of SARS." In addition, the government issued a special advisory Saturday to students urging them not to travel during their breaks. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is in Beijing with an eight-member congressional delegation, praised China's recent steps to control the virus. "I give the president, President Hu, tremendous compliments -- because he took bold actions in the last 48 hours while we were here in China to boldly and courageously address this virus," said Frist, who is a physician. "There has been increased reporting, increased commitment to prevention, increased commitment to treatment by President Hu. I think the government here in China is taking the appropriate action at this juncture." Advisory issued to Toronto commutersIn Canada, health officials said public transit commuters around Toronto might have been exposed to SARS and should check themselves for symptoms. The Ministry of Health issued an advisory Sunday saying an infected person traveled on a GO Transit train last week. Commuters who sat next to that person might have been exposed to the fast-spreading respiratory illness. Passengers who might have been exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms until April 25, officials said. The statement was released by Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Toronto's acting medical officer of health, and Dr. Bob Nosal, the medical officer of health for the Halton Region, which covers four cities on Toronto's southwestern edge. The doctors said the infected person traveled at least 25 minutes on the GO train with other passengers on two occasions: from Union Station to Appleby Line at 4:30 p.m. April 14 and again on the Appleby Line to Union Station at 7:32 a.m. April 15. The doctors emphasized there is a low risk of exposure to anyone who did not share seating with the infected person. GO Transit carries 44 million passengers a year, according to its Web site. Its network of trains and buses link Toronto to the surrounding regions. So far, Toronto has 132 probable cases of SARS, according to the World Health Organization. Twelve deaths from the virus have occurred in Canada. CNN Correspondent Andrew Brown contributed to this report.
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