China reports declining number of SARS Cases

China reported eight new SARS cases Monday, the smallest number of new cases since the Beijing government began publishing daily reports on the spread of the SARS epidemic last month. Two additional deaths also were recorded today in Beijing and Inner Mongolia, bringing China's death toll from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome to 317. China's total of confirmed SARS cases now stands at 5,316.

Hong Kong reported just one new death and one infection Monday. The epidemic has killed 267 people in Hong Kong and 1,726 patients are infected. Taiwan reported 15 new SARS cases Monday, but no new deaths. Seventy-two Taiwanese have died of the disease since March. The total number of cases is now 585. The Canadian city of Toronto is back on the map of SARS trouble spots, less than two weeks after the World Health Organization said the disease was under control there. Health officials reported three deaths and six probable new cases of SARS. Worldwide, SARS has caused nearly 725 deaths and infected well over 8,000 people.