In The News

Taiwan's CDC Expands Personal Health Check

Joy Su December 19, 2003
After several months with no new SARS infections reported worldwide, a Taiwanese medical researcher has contracted the disease while working in a lab. Singaporean health officials have ordered 70 people in that country into quarantine because they came in contact with the Taiwanese man during a recent medical conference in Singapore. In Taiwan, national health officials are ordering increased...

SARS Proved Health is Global Public Good

Michael Merson September 24, 2003
When SARS was first reported by China to the World Health Organization last February, the world was little prepared for the consequences that were to follow from that pneumonia-like disease. We are only now beginning to understand the toll the disease took on individuals as well as entire economies and societies. Dr. Michael Merson, dean of Yale University's School of Public Health, says...

SARS: Down but Still a Threat

August 31, 2003
In a recently released report on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) the Central Intelligence Agency says that although the Sars wave has been overcome it has not been eradicated. Despite the announcement by the World Health Organization that on 5 July the disease was contained, the agency says that many health experts fear it could return again in the fall when cooler temperatures return...

Editorial: Remember SARS as More than a Disease

July 10, 2003
China should not remember SARS as a period of panic or as evidence of weaknesses and failings in the Chinese government, this editorial in an official Chinese paper says. Rather, the rapid defeat of the disease should evince the dedication, energy, and lightning speed of China's "efficient and centralized command team." The editorial downplays the secrecy that allowed SARS to...

China Closes Beijing Newspaper in Media Crackdown

John Pomfret June 20, 2003
The cover-up of the SARS epidemic in China at its initial stage has caused many foreign governments and international organizations to blame the Chinese government. Following the criticism China has enjoyed a period of relative openness and freedom in the news media. It was reinforced by China’s new president and premier who ordered accuracy and transparency in SARS reporting. However,...

WHO Lifts Travel Warning on Taiwan

Melody Chen June 18, 2003
The SARS epidemic finally seems to be waning. The World Health Organization (WHO) lifted its travel advisory to Taiwan on Tuesday, with Beijing the only place remaining on the list of areas with the health agency's warning. WHO officials said that Taiwan had met the agency's criteria for the lifting and that it was now a safe place for travelers. Because of SARS, Taiwan received more...

A Pause for Breath

June 17, 2003
Since it was first diagnosed three months ago, the SARS virus has spread worldwide, infecting 10,000 people and threatening tourism in Canada and East Asia. Now, new cases of the disease appear to be on the wane, due to unprecedented cooperation between public health officials as well as draconian containment measures in some affected areas. Still, it remains to be seen how affected economies...