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April 14, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"As Disease Spreads, Singapore Life Suffers"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (04/14/03) P. A10; Nakashima, Ellen

In Singapore, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has reduced tourism and is keeping people inside for fear of contagion.  So far, the confirmed death toll in the country is 10, with probable cases totaling 151 or more, and if two more deaths are confirmed as SARS, the mortality rate will be 7.9 percent--roughly twice that of the global rate.  According to the World Health Organization, there are some 3,000 cases worldwide, with at least 130 deaths and 1,460 recoveries.  Hong Kong has reported five more deaths, but four of those were young and otherwise healthy people, which officials say is alarming.  Singapore's government has implemented control measures like quarantines and video phones, but schools are to reopen this week. Health officials say that all the cases in the nation seem to be spurred by close personal contact with someone infected.

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