Taiwan's number of SARS probable cases continued to fall yesterday for the second consecutive day as three cases were reclassified and two more probable cases were reported.
"All of the five cases concerned were old cases. Three probable cases were reclassifed and two suspected cases were identified as probable cases," said Department of Health (DOH) official Wang Chih-chao (王哲超) yesterday.
"All together, the total number of Taiwan's probable cases fell from 679 of the previous day down to 678 and the death toll remained at 81 for the seventh consecutive day," Wang said.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
"The situation is almost under control due to our efforts. But it can be also attributed to hot summer days," Su Yi-jen (蘇益仁), director of the Center for Disease Control, said yesterday.
Su said the public should remain alert to SARS because the virus might hit Taiwan this winter and again early next year.
Su said hospitals would still need to be vigilant against SARS and residents were encouraged to try their best to take the necessary prevention measures.
DOH Director General Chen Chien-jen (
Chen said that medical records show that an increase in SARS carriers -- patients infected with SARS without apparent symptoms -- indicate that the virus' virulence has decreased but also noted that this shows that SARS might not be eradicated soon.
"What happened in the Toronto, Canada -- where the virus crept back while the country thought the disease had been contained, is likely to happen to any place in the world. We have to pay heed to such a warning," Chen said.
However, he said, "it is unlikely that the scale of the infection would be as large as what we had in the past month with a huge spike of the number of people infected and quarantined.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old