WHO: Too Early to Judge SARS as Pandemic

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 28, 2003

WHO: Too Early to Judge SARS as Pandemic

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

It is too early to tell whether there is a danger of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) becoming a pandemic like tuberculosis or AIDS, a World Health Organization (WHO) specialist told French media Sunday.

Isabelle Natal told France-Inter radio that the WHO is taking all necessary measures to prevent SARS from turning into a worldwide pandemic.

She said a "global alert" issued by the WHO on March 12 to health authorities worldwide about SARS is not to declare the disease as a pandemic, but to remind people of its threat and appeal for speeding up research and strengthening control measures.

She said the most frightening aspects of SARS were that it is anew disease for which there is no cure at present, hospital staff are in the front line at risk of contracting the disease, and it was being spread "ultra rapidly" by air travel.

According to WHO's most recent figures issued Saturday, the organization has recorded 4,836 probable cases of SARS in 28 countries and regions, 293 of them fatal.

Questions?Comments? Click here

WHO Expert: Cooperation with Beijing off to a Good Start

WHO Experts 'Are Allowed to Do Whatever They Wanted': Dr. Maguire

>> Full Coverage

China to Send Lunar-Probe Satellite in 3 Years: Expert ( 2 Messages)

Analysis: Germany Softening Anti-War Tone as It Enters UN Security Council ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Premier Pledges to Improve SARS Control ( 2 Messages)

China Launches First "Indigenous" Management Theory ( 9 Messages)

China Protects Safety of People from Overseas ( 3 Messages)