Two MPs who falsely reported a mass kidnapping at a prestigious Taiwanese university to test preparedness in the wake of the US school shooting could face a year in prison, an official said today.

TAIWAN health authorities said a military medical researcher had contracted SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), sparking alerts across Asia of a possible resurgence of the killer virus.

A Taiwanese scientist who tested positive for SARS today failed to follow safety guidelines and wear protective gloves and a gown while studying the virus, a World Health Organisation Official said.