Regular readers of Men's health will know that we have been providing regular updates on the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak for a number of months. The media fenzy that surrounded the SARS outbreak has now died down and this, in part, is probably due to the fact that the SARS situation now appears to be under control.
The number of cases, although still occurring, are slowing down. The 32 or so countries involved have responded well, a major contributory factor to their vigilance has no doubt has been the major financial losses that were involved. Travel restrictions, losses from tourism, cancelled flights, isolation of parts of the population and interrupted export of goods were just some of the ramifications
The World Health Organization (WHO), is no longer issuing daily cumulative data on the numbers of SARS patients and deaths from the disease and international travel restrictions have now been downgraded. No country is now considered to be dangerous to visit, however exit screening for international travelers departing the areas of Toronto in Canada and Taiwan in China is still in place. Toronto's last reported case was on June 12th, in Taiwan on June 15th.
The WHO still requires 20 days after the isolation of a patient with possible SARS symptoms, before the community is officially considered free of the possibility of having the disease. This does slow down the process of declaring an area disease free or changing travel restrictions and all the financial issues this in tales, however it does make people feel more secure.
Men's health will continue to update the information on SARS if the situation changes in any major way. For more information on all aspects of Severe acute respiratory syndrome, its transmission, the statistics, symptoms etc, seeour main article though the links.