SARS Case Probably Stems From Torn Bag

A torn plastic trash bag that leaked liquid contaminated with the SARS virus was the probable cause of Taiwan’s first infection in five months, investigators said.

The bag was handled by a 44-year-old scientist in his military laboratory, where he was studying how Chinese medicinal herbs affect severe acute respiratory syndrome, investigator Chang Shang-tsun said at a news conference.

Chang declined to say whether the laboratory was properly run by the scientist, identified only as Lt. Col. Chan. The investigation’s results were preliminary, and the researcher will be questioned further once he recovers, Chang said.