The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) oubreak is nearing its end, but there are no assurances it will not recur later this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.
China has reported the world's highest number of SARS cases with more than 2,500 infections and nearly 200 deaths. Nationwide, the virus has infected more than 5,300.
Hitoshi Oshitani, the WHO's regional adviser on communicable disease surveillance and response, said Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was on the wane in China -- the epicentre of the disease that has killed 789 people around the globe.
"In terms of the number of cases, we are seeing the end of the outbreak," Oshitani told reporters in Manila on Thursday. "We do believe the outbreak is under control in China...not completely under control in Taiwan."
Oshitani said seven cases were reported on Wednesday - one in China, one in Canada, one in Taiwan and four in the United States.
Taiwan today reported two new SARS cases, and its number of probable SARS cases rose by just one to 688.
The island has the world's third-highest number of SARS infections and victims, after China and Hong Kong - mostly due to a spate of infections at major hospitals in late April and May.
The government yesterday said it was confident the WHO would soon remove Taiwan from its travel advisory list.
Taiwan had hoped the Geneva-based WHO would revise its travel warning on Tuesday, but local health officials said the WHO has requested more information from the island.
Some Taiwan officials, including members of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's cabinet, said they suspected political rival China might have intervened. The mainland and Taiwan are racing to be dropped from the list first.
AFP,