SARS Gets Loose in the Lab

During the height of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic last spring, researchers emphasized that basic infection control and personal responsibility were vital to check the spread of the disease. Maybe they should have taken their own prescription. The latest SARS patient, a medical researcher and lieutenant colonel in Taiwan's army surnamed Chan, apparently contracted the disease in a SARS research lab on Dec. 6. Authorities in Taiwan believe Chan was in a rush to catch a plane to Singapore for a medical conference and hurriedly cleaned up a spill in his lab from a leaky waste bag. Chan told...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!