Taiwan SARS panic ease

cctv.com 12-21-2003 09:16

The panic in Taiwan generated by the first SARS case on the island since the last outbreak is gradually subsiding. There has been news that the patient's condition is improving. Health authorities in Taiwan have also released an initial report into how the man contracted the disease.

The SARS patient has been hospitalized for the last four days. Doctors say his temperature is coming back down to normal and he is regaining his appetite.

Among those who have had contact with him, none have shown any SARS symptoms such as fever during their 10-day incubation period.

On Friday, health authorities' initial findings suggest that the researcher was hit by the SARS virus on Dec. 6 while cleaning the lab.

But investigators stress that the lab room was only partially infected and only on a small-scale.

To be on the safe side, the health administration now demands that scientific researchers be prohibited from entering labs to do SARS-related work ten days before they leave Taiwan.

And if medical workers have contact with a SARS patient, they cannot leave the island within ten days.

These two groups of high-risk individuals should also have their temperatures checked on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, residents are easing their nerves with the news of the recovering patient.

Now, shoppers can finally take advantage of year-end sales with throngs of people filling shopping malls, despite having their temperatures taken at the entrance.

Editor:Zhang  Source:CCTV.com