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WHO lifts advisory against travel to Taiwan
Kuala Lumpur, June 17: The World Health Organisation has lifted a warning against travel to Taiwan, imposed due to the SARS outbreak, with immediate effect, an official said today.
Kuala Lumpur, June 17: The World Health Organisation has lifted a warning against travel to Taiwan, imposed due to the SARS outbreak, with immediate effect, an official said today.
WHO regional director for Western Pacific Shigeru Omi
announced the move at a special news conference on the
sidelines of an international conference on SARS in the
Malaysian capital.
"The WHO has decided that the travel advisory against Taiwan is lifted with immediate effect," Omi said.
"The decision is based on the overall improving situation. The risk to travellers is now minimal."
He said the WHO took three main factors into account in coming to its decision: "the number of new cases and active cases is coming down, there is no evidence of exportation of cases from Taiwan to elsewhere, the quality of surveillance is thorough."
Omi said the WHO was not acting under pressure from Taiwan, adding: "the government and people have done a wonderful job."
Taiwan today reported no new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and no new deaths for the second day running.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) also marked down the total number of SARS infections on the island to 697 from 698 after dropping a case which was confirmed not to involve the deadly virus.
The number of fatalities from the pneumonia-like epidemic remained at 83. Bureau Report
"The WHO has decided that the travel advisory against Taiwan is lifted with immediate effect," Omi said.
"The decision is based on the overall improving situation. The risk to travellers is now minimal."
He said the WHO took three main factors into account in coming to its decision: "the number of new cases and active cases is coming down, there is no evidence of exportation of cases from Taiwan to elsewhere, the quality of surveillance is thorough."
Omi said the WHO was not acting under pressure from Taiwan, adding: "the government and people have done a wonderful job."
Taiwan today reported no new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and no new deaths for the second day running.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) also marked down the total number of SARS infections on the island to 697 from 698 after dropping a case which was confirmed not to involve the deadly virus.
The number of fatalities from the pneumonia-like epidemic remained at 83. Bureau Report