Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

As of July 11th 2003, the WHO has received reports of 8,437 suspected and probable cases (of whom 7,452 have recovered) including 813 deaths, of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an atypical pneumonia.  As of July 14th , WHO will no longer publish a daily table of the cumulative number of reported probable cases of SARS.  WHO continues to consolidate global surveillance data for the outbreak period, 1 November to 5 July 2003 and will publish these findings along with situation updates should any change in the present SARS situation occur. This is available on the WHO website

On July 5th 2003, WHO removed Taiwan, China from its list of areas with recent local transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Taiwan is the last area to be removed from the list, indicating that the human chains of the SARS virus transmission appear to have been broken worldwide. However, continued global vigilance for SARS is critical. Further information is available on the WHO website

As of June 24th 2003, the Department of Health & Children advises intending travellers that all advice not to travel to specified SARS-affected areas has been lifted. The Department of Health and Children website can be seen at www.doh.ie