- DUBLIN -- Doctors at a Dublin
hospital are investigating a suspected case of the new pneumonia virus
known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
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- The National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) says
it is aware of the suspected case and is monitoring the situation.
-
- A statement on behalf of the Dept of Health, the NDSC
and the Eastern Regional Health Authority, said a person who had recently
returned from South East Asia has shown mild symptoms to those of the disease,
but is otherwise well and is continuing to receive treatment.
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- Earlier, the NDSC issued guidelines on how to recognise
the new pneumonia virus that has spread rapidly across the world.
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- The disease has been blamed for nine deaths worldwide,
but the centre says the risk of infection is very low.
-
- In recent days four people have died from the mystery
bug and 167 cases have been reported around the world, mainly in South-East
Asia and Canada.
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- The cause of the illness is unknown but evidence suggests
that it is transmitted through close contact with an infected person.
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- Symptoms are flu-like, including a high temperature,
coughing and shortness of breath.
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- However it is stressed that a case is only likely in
people who have returned from one of the infected areas or have had close
contact with somebody who has the illness.
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- There is international concern that the illness has spread
so quickly.
-
- Despite fears in the American media, health experts have
ruled out a link between the outbreak and bio-terrorism.
-
- UK doctors wait for results in suspect case
-
- Doctors in the UK say it could be several days before
they can establish whether or not a British man has the potentially fatal
mystery pneumonia bug which has claimed at least nine lives in Canada and
Asia.
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- The patient, who is in his 60s, became seriously ill
after returning to the UK from Hong Kong.
-
- Medical staff in Manchester are waiting for the results
of tests on the man, who may be the first in the UK to be suffering from
the severe flu-like illness.
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- The bug, which experts say cannot be treated with standard
drugs, has been branded a worldwide health threat.
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- http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0318/bug.html
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