09/09/2003

Singapore confirms new case of Sars

Health authorities in Singapore have confirmed that a man has tested positive for the Sars virus.

The 27-year-old man was confirmed to have Sars after a second set of tests on the laboratory technician proved positive.

The case comes four months after the last known case of Sars was detected in Singapore. The finding has baffled health officials who said that the man is not thought to have travelled abroad, nor is he known to have been in direct contact with Sars cases.

He has been placed in isolation in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore’s nominated facility for dealing with known Sars cases.

At least 25 people - known to have had close contact with the man and who may have been exposed to the virus - have also been quarantined.

Singapore, which put in place strict anti-Sars measures to contain any possible spread of the disease, has not had an identified case of Sars since May 31.

The World Health Organisation confirmed that steps had been taken and that people who had been in contact with the man had been traced and that none were so far known to be sick.

The Sars outbreak earlier this year killed over 800 people, with over 8,000 people contracting the virus, which can cause severe respiratory distress.

(SP)

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