Taiwan announced another surge in the number of new SARS infections today but the government insisted the health crisis was under control.
The number of new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infections reported by Taipei declined from yesterday's record 65 to 55, but the figure was still well ahead of the previous daily high and the island has now reported over 300 new cases in a week.
Taiwan health authorities said an outbreak in the south of the island was being brought under control despite the decision on Wednesday by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to extend a travel warning from Taipei to cover the whole island.
Li Ming-liang, who heads Taiwan's anti-SARS taskforce, said the crisis in the south had now peaked.
Taiwan has been the focus of attention this week because of the rapid increase in the number of new infections as the outbreak appeared to be waning in other SARS hotspots in Asia.
Today's announcement saw the island's total confirmed infections rise to 538 with 60 deaths and a further 1,000 suspected cases.
The island is the third-worst affected region behind China and Hong Kong in a global outbreak that has killed nearly 700 people and infected more than 8,000 in about 30 countries.
China today reported 20 new SARS cases, slightly lower than the previous 24 hours, and three new deaths, the health ministry said.
It takes the nationwide death toll to 303 and the cumulative number of cases to 5,285. AFP