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Officials: China SARS crisis eases
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- The SARS epidemic in mainland China appears to be easing, although the situation remains serious, while new outbreaks of the virus have been reported in Canada. The global death toll rose Friday to at least 755, with more than 8,300 people now infected with SARS -- or severe acute respiratory syndrome -- the vast majority of them in Asia. Chinese Vice-Minister of Health Gao Qiang told a news conference that the number of new cases has been decreasing and "the epidemic is starting to be effectively contained." But he warned that "there is still a long way to go towards eventual elimination" of SARS. "In the meantime, we cannot relax our vigilance." The average number of new cases SARS per day declined to 14 at the end of this month, compared to 45 in mid-May and 151 at the start of the month, Gao said. China reported seven more SARS cases and one death Friday. Asked why reporters should believe Chinese officials after they were lied to in the past, Gao said: "Infectious diseases are impossible to cover up. You may be able to cover up figures but you cannot cover up the viruses. That's why I don't just look at the figures." Meanwhile, Taiwan reported its lowest daily increase in cases in three weeks. That appeared to bolster claims by Taiwanese officials that severe acute respiratory syndrome is fading on the island. The death toll from the illness on the island is 81. Taiwan is currently the most active region in the world for SARS, lagging only behind mainland China and Hong Kong in total cases. In Canada, officials said Thursday the number of suspected and probable cases in Ontario's latest outbreak has grown from 31 to 41. That includes 33 probable cases and eight suspected cases, said Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Ontario's public health commissioner. The increase is partly due to the adoption by Ontario officials and Health Canada of the broader case definition recommended by the World Health Organization and used by virtually every other country. (Canada cases on the rise) In another development, Singapore said Friday the World Health Organization in Geneva has announced the city state would be removed from the WHO's list of SARS-affected areas with effect from Saturday. "It is a recognition of the comprehensive and rigorous measures that have been put in place in Singapore,'' the health ministry said in a statement. SARS has killed 31 people and infected 206 in Singapore. On Thursday, the WHO announced new measures to respond to health threats in the wake of the global SARS outbreak. (Full story) The resolution -- which includes plans for on-the-spot investigations, enhanced communications, and broader sources of reporting -- was agreed on at the annual meeting of the organization. "This is an extremely significant step for international public health," WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland said of the resolution.
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