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New SARS cases setback for Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan has reported four new probable SARS cases, dispelling hopes the World Health Organization may soon remove its travel advisory for the island territory. Taiwan, now with 680 SARS cases, is the third-hardest hit international region after China and Hong Kong. Taiwan's Department of Health said Monday the latest infections came from the Taipei Municipal Yang Ming Hospital, Reuters reports. The new cases follow three new probable SARS cases on Sunday, the second day of new infections following a three-day break. The death toll in Taiwan has remained unchanged at 81 for 11 days. WHO officials have said the SARS epidemic has passed its peak worldwide, but the threat of resurgence remains. A case in point is the Canadian city of Toronto, which on Sunday reported two more deaths, taking the number of fatalities there to 33. A 66-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man both died on Saturday in Canada in a second wave of infections which hit after authorities thought they had got on top of the disease. (Full story) Hong Kong on Sunday reported one death but no new SARS cases. On Saturday there were no deaths and two new cases. The latest numbers mark the 24th consecutive day the territory's daily SARS infection count has fallen under five. In a sign international acceptance of Hong Kong's efforts to stem SARS in slowly taking hold, Ireland has accepted proposals to let the territory's athletes compete in this month's Special Olympics, reported Reuters news agency. Ireland gradually has been retreating from its ban since the WHO and activists for the mentally disabled took issue with it after Dublin announced it last month. The WHO has called the ban unnecessary. Life is gradually returning to normal in the Chinese capital, with millions of students in Beijing sitting their university entrance exams, albeit amidst stringent anti-SARS measures. That was the first major public event since the outbreak prompted the closure of the capital's schools in April. Students were required to bring a doctor's certificate saying they were free of the flu-like disease. Medical workers checked them for fevers using infrared thermometers. Gymnasiums and health clubs have also been given the all-clear to resume business.
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