Taiwan Sars victim wanted to die at home

The Taiwan military scientist recently diagnosed with Sars had stayed at home for five days, refusing to seek medical help, after realising he might have contracted the deadly virus, his father said yesterday.

The scientist tested positive for Sars this week and is now in stable condition. He probably contracted the disease in a laboratory accident two weeks ago, shortly before he visited Singapore for a seminar.

"My son had refused to go to the hospital and said he wanted to die at home because he feared his illlness would bring shame to his lab and the country," the scientist's father said on television.

"He finally agreed to go to the hospital after I threatened to kill myself."

Authorities are monitoring at least 75 people in Singapore and about 35 in Taiwan who came into contact with him, but none of them has shown any signs of Sars.

The case has spread alarm in Asia, which bore the brunt of a virulent outbreak of Sars this year. Worldwide, about 8,000 people were infected and about 800 died, and many of the region's economies were battered.