China's first suspected SARS patient since July, when the United Nations health organization declared the world free of the deadly flu-like virus, is in stable condition under quarantine.

Customs officers wear protective masks as they check the baggage of a traveler on her arrival from Guangzhou at Hong Kong's train terminal December 28, 2003. Hong Kong stepped up health checks on travelers from Guangdong province after a man in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, had been admitted to a hospital with symptoms of the deadly SARS disease. [Reuters]

Those who have had close contact with the victim, a 32-year-old freelance television producer, were also under quarantine but do not have a fever and have not shown other SARS symptoms, Xinhua News Agency quoted doctors as saying on Sunday.

Xinhua said the patient was first diagnosed on December 16 with pneumonia of the right lower lung and quarantined for treatment. He was transferred to the quarantine ward of Gu angzhou No. 8 People's Hospital on December

Doctors at the No 8 People's Hospital in the southern province of Guangdong were still trying to determine how the patient was infected.

"The case does not seem to be infectious and the patient is recovering very quickly," Zhong Nanshan, one of China's top respiratory experts said.

"His condition is stable," said one of his doctors. His temperature has been normal over the last three days, the doctor added.

The patient told doctors he had not left provincial capital Guangzhou or eaten wild animal meat for one month before hospitalization, said Wang Zhiqiong, deputy head of the Guangdong provincial health department.

If confirmed, the Guangdong case would be the first one globally not linked to laboratory accidents since the WHO declared the outbreak over in July.

Global health officials have been watching for a resurgence of SARS since the start of the northern winter. Two recent cases in Singapore and China's Taiwan were linked to accidents in medical research laboratories.

China's Health Ministry warned health workers nationwide of punishment if they failed to report SARS cases, aiming to avoid a resurgence of SARS this year.

More than 8,000 people  in nearly 30 countrie were infected during last years SARS outbreaks, killing about 800 and ravaging many Asian economies.

Hong Kong and Taiwan have stepped up checks on visitors from southern China to avert another outbreak of the deadly virus ahead of the region's biggest holiday.

News of the possible new SARS case comes just weeks before the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday when there is a mass movement of people within the country and across East and Southeast Asia.

Beijing on alert

Beijing public health departments have responded quickly to the latest suspected SARS case found in South China's Guangdong Province and issued emergency measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

All the hospitals in Beijing should strengthen monitoring and examinations for fever cases, especially those from Guangdong, officials with the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau said Saturday afternoon.

Guo Jiyong, deputy director of the bureau, led a team to check the city's airports and railway stations on their work on SARS prevention and control.

Guo said that all municipal entry-exit inspection and quarantine departments should strengthen temperature screening systems and send any travelers with a body temperature over 38 degrees Celsius to government-designated hospitals.

Special attention should be paid to the travelers from Guangdong and the bureau has kept a keen eye on the information about the suspected case in Guangdong, said Guo.

The latest suspected SARS case was confirmed on Friday afternoon and is receiving treatment at hospital in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong. The case has had normal temperatures for three days and is now in stable condition in Guangdong, according to local hospital sources.

This is the first suspected SARS case ever found since May 23 when WHO lifted the SARS-related travel advisory against GuangdongProvince.

Beijing has already strengthened its prevention to SARS diseaseas a SARS patient was identified in Taiwan Province on Dec. 17. Beijing Municipal Health Bureau urged all labs doing research on SARS to strictly adhere to safety procedures.

Emergency task forces in the city's districts and counties are required to work on shifts night and day to help trace people who had close contact with SARS patients, if any.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+Suspected SARS patient stable, quarantined ( 2003-12-28) +Iran fears quake toll could hit 40,000 ( 2003-12-28) +Gas well sealed after blowout kills 198 ( 2003-12-28) +Official: China likely to be Mad Cow free ( 2003-12-28) +Lawmakers pass draft amendments on Constitution ( 2003-12-28)		+Gas well sealed after blowout kills 198 ( 2003-12-28) +Suspected SARS patient stable, quarantined ( 2003-12-28) +Date set for second session of 10th NPC ( 2003-12-28) +Official: China likely to be Mad Cow free ( 2003-12-28) +China to launch satellite with European Space Agency ( 2003-12-28)