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Date Posted: 16:22:45 04/07/03 Mon
Author: Gordon
Subject: Sars deaths 'reach three figures' (BBC)
In reply to: Alexandre 's message, "About new Hong Kong flu (BBC)" on 15:17:15 03/16/03 Sun

Sars deaths 'reach three figures'

Many people across Asia are taking precautions
The death toll from the pneumonia-type Sars virus is reported to have reached three figures worldwide.
Officials in Hong Kong announced on Monday that a 23rd person in the territory - a 78-year-old woman - had died from severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Although not yet officially confirmed, it is thought that this brings the global total of fatalities to 100.

Elsewhere, Australia has become the latest country to announce tough new defences against the deadly bug, giving health authorities the power to forcibly detain anyone showing its symptoms.

The new regulations also allow for the closure of schools, public places and of Australia's borders.

Australia's decision follows similarly tough announcements from Malaysia, Singapore and the US, as countries battle to prevent the spread of the illness, which is now thought to have infected more than 2,700.

China, where the virus is thought to have first emerged, has been publicly criticised by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Gro Harlem Brundtland, for not quickly reporting the first cases.

Ms Brundtland also highlighted China's lack of co-operation with the international community in the early stages of the outbreak.

She said that in her five years as head of the WHO this was the first time a disease had spread internationally in this way.

Next time something strange and new comes... let us come in as quickly as possible

Gro Harlem Brundtland

Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have announced that they have detected the presence of the bacterium chlamydia - responsible for a common sexually transmitted disease - in some sars victims.

They say this raises the possibility that the disease is caused by the bacterium acting in tandem with another pathogen, such as a virus from the corona family.

Australian hospitals have five patients showing symptoms of the respiratory illness.

Three young children from the same family, who flew in from Canada just over a week ago, are being treated in isolation units in the southern city of Melbourne.

Airline officials are attempting to trace all 300 passengers who arrived on the same flight.

The Australian measures mean that Sars will now be treated as seriously as cholera, rabies and smallpox, allowing the authorities to isolate infected people against their will.

Ms Brundtland's criticism of China came as the country announced it would disinfect all five diplomatic compounds in the capital Beijing, after the first foreigner died of the illness.

Pekka Aro, a 53-year-old Finnish official with the International Labor Organization, died on Sunday, taking the total number of deaths in China to 51.

In other developments:

Singapore reports two new deaths, bringing the total to eight from 112 diagnosed cases. First two cases reported at the Changi General Hospital, on the east of the island state.

Reports from Bhutan say the trade and industry minister has been among the first people to be quarantined under a new law imposed on returning nationals who may have been exposed to Sars.

How Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has spread around the world

* * *

SARS: PROBABLE CASES AND DEATHS
China 1,268 cases (53 deaths)
Hong Kong 883 (23)
Singapore 112 (8)
Vietnam 65 (4)
Canada 217 (9)
Thailand 7 (2)
Malaysia (suspected) 70 (1)
Source: National Health Authorities

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130 -- hotmailbird, 17:35:28 04/14/03 Mon