Neighboring Country China Already Breached...? Authorities on Alert Amid 'SARS Fear'

Hong Kong and Taiwan Travelers Show Viral Pneumonia Symptoms
WHO Activates Task Force for Monitoring
Countries on Alert... Our Government Also Fully Mobilizes Quarantine Measures

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Authorities have entered a state of high alert as Hong Kong and Taiwanese individuals who visited Wuhan, central China?where a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause has emerged?show symptoms of viral pneumonia and fever.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 3rd, Hong Kong authorities reported that three Hong Kong residents who recently traveled to Wuhan exhibited fever and upper respiratory infection symptoms. Upper respiratory infection refers collectively to infections of the nose and throat.

The Hong Kong authorities hospitalized the three patients in isolation wards for treatment. Two have improved and been discharged, while the remaining one no longer shows fever symptoms. All of them visited Wuhan but were confirmed not to have visited the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, known as the origin of the pneumonia outbreak.

Local media reported that most of the 44 patients recently diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown cause are vendors at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. All are hospitalized at the specialized infectious disease treatment facility, Jinyintan Hospital, with 11 in critical condition.

Hong Kong authorities have decided to strengthen quarantine measures by installing additional infrared sensors at Hong Kong International Airport to screen all travelers arriving from Wuhan. Anyone who has visited Wuhan within the past 14 days and shows respiratory infection or fever symptoms will be immediately isolated and hospitalized in a public hospital. Updates will be announced daily.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also formed a task force to monitor whether the early warning system for diseases is functioning properly regarding the Wuhan situation and to ensure rapid information sharing between regions. However, no travel advisory has been issued for the Wuhan area.

Taiwan, which borders China, is also on high alert. According to Taiwan News and others, a six-year-old child who transferred planes in Wuhan and arrived in Taiwan on the 31st of last month showed fever symptoms, prompting Taiwanese authorities to strengthen vigilance.

Taiwanese authorities, considering that the child did not travel directly to Wuhan and had already received a flu vaccine, allowed the child to return home but decided to closely monitor any changes in symptoms.

Su Tseng-chang, Premier of Taiwan’s Executive Yuan, instructed relevant departments to strengthen entry quarantine and establish a response center to maintain full alertness. He also ordered that information related to the situation be promptly communicated to the public as soon as it is obtained.

Taiwanese officials and experts criticized Chinese authorities for not transparently disclosing information related to the situation and warned that if information continues to be withheld, Taiwan may send an independent investigation team to Wuhan.

South Korea’s government has also activated its quarantine system. On the 3rd, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the activation of the “Wuhan Pneumonia Response Team” and the strengthening of quarantine for arrivals from Wuhan following the occurrence of 27 pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Currently, there are eight direct flights per week from Wuhan to South Korea.

KDCA has enhanced fever monitoring and quarantine for passengers arriving from Wuhan and conducts quarantine inspections for those with fever and respiratory symptoms after visiting or staying in Wuhan. Suspected cases are isolated and tested. Additionally, KDCA is cooperating with Chinese health authorities and WHO to continuously collect information and assess risks.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities, where the pneumonia outbreak originated, are cautious about the spread of anxiety over a SARS resurgence. Wuhan police announced that eight individuals who spread false information online causing social harm were dealt with according to the law and urged the public not to disseminate false or unverified information.

During the 2003 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, which caused significant damage, Chinese and Hong Kong health authorities are taking thorough precautions to prevent further spread. SARS, which first emerged in Guangdong Province, quickly spread to Hong Kong, infecting 1,750 people and causing 299 deaths. In China, over 5,300 were infected with 349 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.