Asia must do more to prepare for quick action in case a pandemic flu strain erupts because every moment will count at the onset and rapid response will be crucial, the World Health Organisation said today.

THE World Health Organisation said yesterday the global SARS outbreak may be nearing an end, and hard-hit Hong Kong reported no new infections or deaths for the first day since March.

The World Health Organisation said today that the global SARS epidemic may be coming to an end, although Taiwan’s outbreak is not yet under control.

PUBLIC health specialists have signalled they are ready for strike action amid claims the country has no out of office hours emergency plan to deal with an epidemic like the deadly pneumonia virus spreading across the world.

HEALTH officials in Hong Kong have ordered the residents of an apartment block to be quarantined for 10 days in an effort to control a deadly new virus.