WHO issues warning on killer virus
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The World Health Organization (WHO) on April 2 warned against traveling to Hong Kong and neighboring Guangdong Province in southern China due to the outbreak of a killer respiratory virus.
It was the first warning the U.N. body has ever issued for health reasons. Previously, it had issued travel warnings only in the case of war or other conflicts.
The WHO issued the advice "because of the fact that we don't completely understand the means of transmission in Hong Kong" of the disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, said a WHO official.
Guangdong Province and Hong Kong have recorded the most SARS cases since the mysterious virus first surfaced in November.
"In Hong Kong, transmission does not seem to be only by close contact from person to person, it appears that there is something in the environment which is serving as a vehicle to transfer the virus from one person to another," the WHO official said.
"We do not believe this is in the air," and it could be through the sewage or water systems, he added
The recommendation does not apply to other areas, such as Singapore, Vietnam or Canada, where health authorities appear to be managing to control SARS, he added.
SARS has been blamed for the deaths of 78 people around the world.
WHO、SARS で渡航自粛勧告
世界保健機関(WHO)は2日、香港など中国南部を中心に重症急性呼吸器症候群(SARS)の感染者が広がっている問題で香港と広東省への旅行者に渡航を延期するように求めた勧告を発表した。
Shukan ST: April 11, 2003
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