China sacks health chief as SARS cases soar

GOVERNMENTS across East Asia were today considering tougher measures in their struggle to stop the SARS outbreak that has killed at least 205 people worldwide and infected more than 3,800 – most of them in Asia.

The moves came as China yesterday reported a nearly tenfold increase in SARS cases in Beijing and announced the sacking of its top health official and the capital's mayor from key Communist Party positions.

Singapore ordered all 2,400 workers at its largest wholesale vegetable market to be quarantined and shut the market for 10 days after several SARS cases were reported there.