Athletes agree to go into SARS quarantine

The organisers of the Special Olympics World Games say athletes from the countries worst affected by SARS have agreed to go into quarantine before travelling here in June.

Athletes from Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will go into voluntary quarantine before flying into Dublin.

A spokesman for the Games said the measure was being taken in order to completely reassure people about public health safety at the games and to take away any doubt about Special Olympics.

Earlier, the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, criticised a decision by Clonmel Borough Council to ask the Hong Kong team that is due to take part in the Special Olympics not to come to the town.

The decision was made, 'with regret', at a special meeting of the Council last night, in light of the SARS outbreak, which has killed more than 100 people in Hong Kong.

Ms Harney said expert opinions on the issue were due to be given by the World Health Organisation and Irish health officials.

In light of this, she said, Clonmel Borough Council's decision was premature.

Beijing's acting Mayor Wang Qishan said the next week would be critical in determining whether the spread of SARS was being curbed.

A spike in the number of cases in the capital has sparked widespread fear and in some areas panic-buying of medicines and staple foods.

'Due to a shortage of beds at designated hospitals, not all suspected SARS patients can be hospitalised in a timely manner,' he said.

Beijing is the hardest-hit area in the world, reporting well over 100 new SARS infections a day and about 1,400 cases with 75 deaths.

Beijing has already closed schools and theatres and put nearly 10,000 people under quarantine.

Authorities in Hong Kong have announced seven more deaths from SARS. The government also said another 17 people have been infected.

The latest figures bring the Hong Kong death toll to 157, and a total of 1,589 cases.

Hong Kong is second only to mainland China on both counts.

Toronto was jubilant after the WHO ended a warning against travel to Canada's financial capital.

Canada, the only country outside Asia where people have died of the virus that has no cure, also promised tougher steps, including screening at its airports.

'We are delighted with the World Health Organisation's latest decision,' Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement said. 'And we certainly know that our vigilance must not stop.'

The original WHO decision advising against travel to Toronto aroused howls of protest.

But health officials expect travellers to continue spreading the scourge in an increasingly interconnected world and say the disease - and others like it - is likely to become endemic.