WHO Lifts Travel Advisory for Beijing
Posted on: Tuesday, 24 June 2003, 06:00 CDT
The World Health Organization on Tuesday lifted a warning against travel to China's capital because of SARS, the last remaining place on its list.
The decision was based on factors including the number of current SARS cases, quality of surveillance and the effectiveness of prevention measures, said Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director for the western Pacific region.
"After careful analysis, WHO has concluded that the risk to travelers to Beijing is now minimal," Omi said to the applause of the audience at the news conference in Beijing.
Beijing was the last remaining place under a WHO travel advisory because of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome that surfaced in southern China in November.
Toronto and Taiwan remain on a list of places with recent local transmissions of the disease, but travel advisories against them have been lifted. Beijing was also removed from the WHO list of places with recent local SARS transmissions.
The SARS crisis peaked in March and April before ebbing worldwide as officials isolated patients and screened travelers for symptoms.
The disease has killed more than 800 people, and infected more than 8,400.
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