Taiwan closes borders to curb spread of infection

Taiwan became the first country yesterday to close its borders to visitors from areas affected by Sars as it recorded its first death from the disease.

Authorities said visitors from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada would be barred in a drastic attempt to curb the spread of the infection. China has also attempted to slow the spread of the disease by closing cinemas, theatres, internet cafés and other public venues.

Canada was offered some hope by the World Health Organisation, which said it would review its warning for travellers not to visit Toronto after the city provided new information on the outbreak.

In Hong Kong, there were 12 more deaths yesterday, taking the toll to 133, but the 16 new cases recorded was the lowest total since the government began issuing daily statistics last month. Margaret Chan, Hong Kong's health director, said it was too soon to say whether the fight against Sars. was being won "We dare not to make any predictions; this disease has shown big fluctuations."

Three more Sars patients have died in Singapore, taking the number of deaths to 22. One was a leading surgeon, who died on 22 April but was not classified as a Sars victim until yesterday. Hospitals said they would turn away visitors to reduce risks. Dozens of food markets are to be closed today for mass cleaning.

India reported its sixth case – in Calcutta – as Gro Harlem Brundtland, director general of the World Health Organisation, said: "We are all at risk and if the Sars epidemic reaches poor countries ... we will have a much bigger problems."

In the Philippines, officials can detain people breaking quarantine orders and profiteers as a national emergency was declared. In Malaysia, the government has quarantined more than 280 workers and patients at a psychiatric hospital.