Measures Taken Against SARS

Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong implemented measures Wednesday to head off a recurrence of the springtime SARS outbreak after officials in Taipei confirmed that a 44-year-old scientist in the Taiwanese capital had contracted the pneumonia-like illness.

Despite reassurances from a World Health Organization spokesperson that the Taiwanese case appeared to be an isolated incident that posed little danger of spreading, stock markets in the region dropped amid fears that reports of the new case could have an impact on tourism and other travel.

The world’s first outbreak of the virus, early this year, was traced to southern China’s heavily populated Guangdong province. Before it ended in late spring, SARS hit more than 8,000 people, claimed 774 lives and caused huge economic losses for the region.

Wednesday’s reactions followed comments by Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Chien-jen at a late morning news conference in Taipei that blood samples from the victim had tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome. The patient was identified as a high-level scientist conducting research on the SARS coronavirus at the Institute of Preventive Medicine at the National Defense University on the outskirts of the city.

“Only one person has been infected so far,” Chen said, adding that the victim was being treated at a local hospital. Health authorities placed the patient’s family under quarantine and temporarily shut down the medical lab where he was working.

Shigeru Omi, the western Pacific regional director for the World Health Organization, said in Manila that the scientist had been infected after handling spilled samples of the virus without proper protective clothing, Associated Press reported.

The scientist was apparently exposed to the virus Dec. 5 but did not develop a fever for five days. Although he reportedly traveled to a medical conference in Singapore after the exposure, WHO officials stressed that it was highly unlikely he was contagious at the time since data assembled so far on SARS indicates victims only pass on the disease once symptoms become apparent.

“It looks very much like an isolated event,” WHO spokeswoman Maria Cheng told Associated Press.

But, taking no chances, Singapore’s Health Ministry on Wednesday slapped three-day quarantine orders on 70 people who may have come into contact with the victim at the medical seminar. Officials said the incubation period for any of those exposed would end Friday. The government also alerted the city-state’s medical facilities to step up vigilance for detecting possible cases.

In September, Singapore reported a similar incident in which a scientist there contracted SARS after not following established safety precautions.

The Hong Kong government also launched precautionary measures Wednesday, ordering medical facilities to implement the first of a three-level alert system for SARS and extending the operating hours of a hotline. At Hong Kong’s international airport, officials started distributing information sheets and health advice to passengers arriving from Taiwan.

“Recent travelers to Taiwan who have fever and symptoms of respiratory tract infection should consult their doctors at once,” said Lam Ping-yan, Hong Kong’s director of health.

Hong Kong’s equity market dropped just over 1% in the wake of the area’s latest SARS scare, while Taiwan’s market fell by twice that amount.