Taiwan raises SARS level to CODE RED

In response to two suspected SARS cases reported in China, Taiwan Department of Health has announced today that starting from April 24, the SARS responsive level will be escalated to level A, the highest.

Department of Health re-instated ¡§SARS control to highten Taiwans's responsiveness. The following precautionary activities have been adopted:

1.All incoming passengers are required to fill in ¡§SARS and other communicable diseases survey forms and to have body temperature taken by Infrared Thermal Cam.

2.Tourists or businessmen who departed from Beijing and Anhui are required to fill a ¡§Tourists from Beijing and Anhui Survey Form¡¨ for follow up.

3.Self-health management required for incoming tourists or businessmen who departed from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Although no suspected SARS case have been identified in Taiwan, Taiwan CDC would like to remind the public of hightened personal hygiene (e.g. hands washing, temperature taking) as well as avoiding going to work and/or school if symptoms develop which may resemble SARS.

Definition: Severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, (a respiratory disease of unknown etiology that is thought to have originated in mainland China in 2003; characterized by fever and coughing or difficulty breathing or hypoxia; SARS can be fatal)