Dispatch of an Expert Team to Taiwan to Cope with the Spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

May 23, 2003

On May 23 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to dispatch to Taiwan an expert team (one person each from Narita Red Cross Hospital and Sendai National Hospital, and a staff member from the Interchange Association) from May 26 to 29. The team, sent through the Interchange Association, will provide advice and instruction on symptomatic treatment and prevention of in-hospital infection for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) as the epidemic is spreading widely in Taiwan.
Since the first case of SARS was found in Taiwan in March this year, the infection has been confirmed in almost every part of that area and has been spreading especially since late April. The Taiwanese authorities announced that, as of May 22, there were 483 reported SARS cases and 60 deaths in Taiwan. .
The Taiwanese authorities have taken various measures to prevent SARS from spreading, but as the number of SARS cases has increased every day, Japan's assistance has recently been requested.
Japan is highly concerned about the spread of SARS in Taiwan as Taiwan is geographically close to Japan, and many people come and go between Japan and Taiwan. Japan hopes that through the dispatch of the expert team, the spread of SARS in Taiwan will cease as soon as possible, leading to the protection of the Japanese public's health, including many of those residing in Taiwan.

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