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SARS spreads to Africa
HONG KONG, China -- The deadly SARS virus has spread further through Asia and the first case on the African continent has been recorded. On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first probable cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, in Japan and South Africa. Four probable cases have been recorded in Japan, and South Africa has reported one. Elsewhere in Asia, possible cases have been reported in Indonesia and the Philippines, according to news agency reports. Those countries' cases both involve foreign nationals but they have yet to be confirmed by the WHO. Indonesia's first possible SARS case involves a 47-year-old British businessman who had visited Hong Kong and Singapore before arriving in Indonesia, Mariani Reksoprodjo, a spokeswoman for Indonesia's health ministry, told the Associated Press news agency. There are a further nine people reportedly under observation for SARS in Indonesia. The Philippines' first "probable" SARS case involves a 64-year-old man, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, Philippines Health Secretary has confirmed. Tests have been sent to Japan for confirmation of the illness. He is presently in hospital quarantine, but is showing signs of recovery. The man is a foreign national who had visited Hong Kong in mid-March. He developed SARS symptoms at the end of March. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government has moved to allay concerns its citizens are spreading the virus around the globe. Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa announced people infected with the SARS virus will not be allowed to leave the territory. Passengers at Chek Lap Kok will be tested for signs of the virus before boarding planes. On Friday, the Hong Kong government ordered home confinement for 70 households with confirmed SARS cases. Health workers will check daily on those who are quarantined for signs of the illness. China's damage controlOn Thursday, China's Vice Minister of Health, Ma Xiaowei, addressed concerns about the SARS epidemic at a news conference. "In containing SARS epidemic, we follow the principle of early detection and early reporting," said Ma. China has come under criticism for failing to report early and truthfully on SARS. Beijing has promised more money for disease control research --- another small but important step in the right direction. The U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens to consider postponing travel to China on Thursday, and issued a message to inform Americans about China's policy for anyone exhibiting symptoms. "Any individual in China, including foreigners, who displays SARS-like symptoms will be sent to a hospital designated for SARS patients until the contagious phase has passed," the travel warning said. "The patient cannot be visited by his/her own doctor, by family members, or by U.S. consular officials. Medical evacuation by air from China currently cannot be arranged because no commercial airlines or air ambulance services are willing to transport SARS patients," the warning added. In other developments: • The Xinhua official news agency has reported two deaths from SARS in China's Inner Mongolia region. These are the first cases in the region. • China reported Friday that at least seven foreign nationals have been hospitalized in Shanghai with SARS symptoms. • A new accusation against mainland China collapsed Thursday when the family of an American dying from a mysterious respiratory virus confirmed that they had requested he be moved from a mainland hospital to one in Hong Kong. (Family denies China moved patient) • A Floridian who contracted SARS abroad has infected a coworker, marking the first time the disease may have been spread to someone other than a household member or health care worker in the United States. The U.S. has 154 SARS cases according the WHO figures. (Workplace SARS) • The Roman Catholic church in Singapore has suspended confessions due to the SARS spread. The city-state 126 confirmed SARS cases and nine deaths. (Military call-up) • Malaysia has stopped issuing entry visas to most Chinese travelers to curb SARS, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. Malaysia has reported one fatal case of the illness. • Taiwan has again hit out at the WHO's failure to allow experts to monitor the SARS outbreak on the island. The WHO, like the U.N., does not recognize the island. • A WHO spokesman told reporters in China, "SARS will be with us for the time being ... we still have a lot to do." -- CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.
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