Posted on 01/13/2004 4:42:36 PM PST by blam
Second Chinese Sars case confirmed
Tuesday January 13, 2004
A second new case of Sars was confirmed in China today, fuelling fear of a resurgence of the disease that swept through the region last year. A waitress in the southern province of Guangzhou tested positive for the virus, Hong Kong Cable Television was quoted as reporting by Reuters.
The television station quoted sources from China's health ministry as saying a formal announcement would be made later.
The woman is in hospital in Guangzhou city.
A third suspected Sars case in the southern city of Shenzhen, however, has been discounted, Reuters added.
Garment trader Chen Xiaohe, 38, had Sars-like symptoms a month ago, but doctors determined he was suffering from a form of bacterial pneumonia.
World Health Organisation (WHO) officials in Guangdong are working with local authorities to inspect all possible cases of Sars in humans and animals.
The government has ordered a cull of civet cats - a local delicacy and the prime suspect in spreading the disease - in the hope of averting a new outbreak.
The virus first emerged in Guangdong late in 2002 and went on to kill nearly 800 people and infect more than 8,000 in nearly 30 countries.
Asia is also facing a second health scare after three deaths of three people in Vietnam were confirmed as being caused by a 'bird flu" that has also affected poultry in Japan, China and South Korea.
I'm curious to see if the TV station will be raided for reporting this like the newspaper was.
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