CDC removes Beijing from SARS travel alert list

Jul 14, 2003 (CIDRAP NEWS) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has, as of Jul 11,  lifted its SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) travel alert for Beijing, China. Beijing was dropped from the list after 30 days—three times the incubation period—had elapsed since the onset of symptoms for the last reported case. Taiwan is now the only area on the CDC's SARS travel alert list. 

CDC had downgraded its traveler's notication for Beijing from an advisory to an alert on Jun 25. A travel alert means that a "health concern exists" and people should "take precautions when traveling to these areas," according to the CDC's Web site. An alert is less restrictive than a travel advisory, which recommends only essential travel to affected areas. Currently there are no areas on the CDC advisory list because of SARS.

As of Jul 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 8,437 cases of SARS and 813 deaths worldwide.

See also:

WHO SARS case count
http://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/2003_07_11/en/