The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday lifted its month-long recommendation against unnecessary travel to Taiwan issued because of a large number of SARS cases there.

An announcement from the United Nations agency said the measure was being lifted because the situation on the island "has now improved significantly".

The action leaves only the Chinese capital Beijing as subject to a WHO advisory against travel because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which has killed some 800 people, mainly in China but also as far away as Toronto, Canada.