Hong Kong declared SARS-free

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Hong Kong free of the SARS virus, but retailers say they are unlikely to see a recovery until the end of summer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Hong Kong free of the SARS virus. The organization has removed the state from the list of locations with recent transmission of the infection, with 20 days now having passed since the last reported case. The decision should pave the way for the return to normal of travel to the area.

WHO executive director of communicable diseases Dr David Heymann commented: "This is a very significant achievement. Hong Kong, with its dense population and fluid border with China, had one of the hardest outbreaks to control. This success means that the whole world can now feel safer from the SARS threat." Hong Kong had suffered the greatest incidence of the disease outside mainland China.

However, retailers have predicted that even with the declaration, they may have to wait until the end of summer to see a difference in the travel-retail climate. Speaking to DFNI after the company's victory in the Hong Kong beauty tender, Nuance-Watson managing director Alessandra Piovesana commented: "Even with the travel warning lifted we shall not see an immediate return to normality. SARS is not as controllable as other situations and confidence will take time to return

Although the WHO's advice advising the postponement of all non-essential travel to Hong Kong was lifted on May 23, the new declaration will act as a further boost to confidence in the safety of the destination.