Taiwan's death toll: four times higher than official count? [SARS}

The Strait Times ^ | June 14, 2003

[Future Useless Eater]

June 14
Taiwan's death toll: four times higher than official count?

TAIPEI - Taiwan's official watchdog body said yesterday it is investigating whether the authorities have been seriously underreporting the number of Sars deaths, which could be four times more than the official toll of 81.

The Control Yuan - a government branch that investigates reports of official wrongdoing - is examining a large discrepancy between Sars numbers compiled by the Health Department and local governments, said Mr Chao Chang-ping, a member of the body. Advertisement

Citing figures compiled by local governments, he said the number of cremated bodies - including suspected and confirmed Sars cases - added up to 363.

He questioned if early in the epidemic, some patients suspected of having contracted Sars died before they were tested for the virus. It was also possible they died before test results were known, he said.

Some might have died of diseases other than Sars, but 'we need to know if the death toll given by the Health Department is indeed accurate', he added. -- AP

[Future Useless Eater]

In my opinion, this story is legit.

Several weeks ago, Taiwan was ONLY reporting its MOST SERIOUS cases, so their RECENT DEATH rate among that group was topping 90%.

Then they changed gears and STOPPED REPORTING DEATHS.

Lately, their death rate has been ZERO!

I don't have my spreadsheeets with me but I will chart later where the deaths were heading before they flat-lined. I would guess that number would be over 400 today.

Both extremes in their reporting have been bogus.

[Future Useless Eater]

ping

[backhoe]

-Strange new disease outbreaks--

[Betty Jo]

Chart, chart!

[Future Useless Eater]

OK, BJ, here is is...

The GREEN is what Taiwan SAID happened with their SARS death curve... and voila! They had an
INSTANT SARS CURE starting May 28th!

The RED curve doubles their deaths at regular intervals...

Taiwan's SARS deaths were DOUBLING every SIX DAYS.
I conservatively spotted them one extra day, and doubled their deaths every SEVEN days starting from where the curve turned 'truth-challenged'...

DATE__ REPORTED    LIKELY
May 01st -   3 deaths      3 deaths
May 06th - 10 deaths    10 deaths
May 12th - 20 deaths    20 deaths
May 18th - 40 deaths    40 deaths
. . .
Jun 10th - 81 deaths   356 deaths
Jun 11th - 81 deaths   393 deaths
Jun 12th - 81 deaths   434 deaths
Jun 13th - 81 deaths   480 deaths

I thing that Taiwan's government watchdog group (Control Yuan) is absolutely correct!
They could easily have had 363 SARS cremations as of a day or two ago!

And before any of you think of travelling there, remember...
Taiwan was actually ANGRY with the WHO for NOT LIFTING their travel warning to their island!!!

...and I am certain that most of CHINA's provinces are just as bad... and THEY DID get their travel restrictions LIFTED !!!

[Enemy Of The State]

I smell the heavy hand of Beijing in this story....

[ex-Texan]

You have very sharp eyes. Good attention for detail. SARS seems more and more to be a man-made virus (and a possible bio-weapon) because of the way the governments in Asia are responding to it. And not reporting deaths factually and playing games with stats the way they have been. SARS and Monkey Pox both have links to exotic animals. Very wierd. Monkey Pox is all over the US in about a week.

And -- No -- I'm not wearing a tin foil hat tonight.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump for the unbelievers and those in denial.

[aristeides]

Of course, if Taiwan really was lying, Peking would have an interest in pointing that out.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[Enemy Of The State]

"Of course, if Taiwan really was lying, Peking would have an interest in pointing that out."

NO, this is just another case of Beijing trying to make sure that Taiwan's travel warning is not lifted before China's. Same ol sh!it...different situation. China first...china first..

[Enemy Of The State]

"And -- No -- I'm not wearing a tin foil hat tonight"

Thats a relief because everyone knows that it has be aluminum foil.. :-)

[Betty Jo]

Thanks for the graph!