- TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan
will dish out cash rewards to informants who tip off health authorities
on new cases of the flu-like SARS virus, which has killed 164 people worldwide
and infected more than 3,500.
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- The Taiwan Department of Health said on Friday it would
give T$2,500 (US$72) to every person who reported a probable or suspected
case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
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- "People who suspect their family members, close
friends, or neighbors may be infected with SARS can report them to local
health authorities," said a Department of Health official.
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- "Initially, there may be many misreports, but we
are very close to China and it's important to take preventive measures,"
she said, adding the rewards would only be given after doctors determine
the person is either a suspected or probable SARS case.
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- Taiwan now has 29 probable SARS cases, with another 44
people suspected to have the virus thought to have originated in southern
China.
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- Although no one on the island has died from the disease,
the government is worried Taiwan's close business links with China will
cause SARS to spread. Health authorities have put nearly 1,700 under quarantine
in their own homes.
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- Taiwan has also imposed strict health checks to contain
the virus, for example ordering all international air passengers to have
their temperatures taken upon arrival in Taiwan.
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- A Taiwan man returning from China was fined T$60,000
this week after he refused to have his temperature taken at an airport
in Taipei.
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