Possible SARS Patient in Isolation in Mpuma

All Africa South African Press Association (Johannesburg) April 1, 2003 Posted to the web April 1, 2003

Nelspruit

A man is in isolation in the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic with symptoms of malaria or possibly the feared Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The man, who looked to be in his 40s, was transported from Maputo, Mozambique, by ambulance to the clinic on Monday night, clinic spokeswoman Robyn Freathy said on Tuesday.

He had recently travelled to Hong Kong. She said the man could also be a malaria patient.

"After receiving a call yesterday from the Medical Director of SOS International requesting permission to receive a patient who was seen by a doctor in Maputo with possible symptoms of SARS, Nelspruit Medi-Clinic has taken all necessary precautionary measures in its isolation and hospitalisation process of the patient," Freathy said in a statement.

The man would remain in isolation until the outcome of tests already conducted was known.

"In the interim, the admission of this isolated patient has been reported by Nelspruit Medi-Clinic to the Department of Health."

SARS is a type of atypical pneumonia caused by a new virus from the family of coronaviruses, which also causes the common cold.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said evidence was mounting that the virus was the primary causative agent, but experts say much laboratory work still needed to be done to pinpoint its exact characteristics.

Development of a vaccine will take years.

According to the World Health Organisation the disease originated in China's southern province of Guangdong before spreading to Hong Kong, from where it was then carried to Vietnam, Singapore, and Canada.

Cases later surfaced in other places including the United States, France, Britain, Taiwan and Germany.

Hong Kong and WHO scientists believe the strain likely originated from animals although it does not appear anything like any known human or animal viruses.

Health experts in Hong Kong have ruled out any association with influenza A and B viruses, and also the H5N1 bird-flu virus which jumped the species barrier and killed six people in the territory in 1997, and a man in February.

The WHO says the main symptoms are high fever, a dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Changes in chest X-rays, which are indicative of pneumonia, also occur.

Other symptoms include chills, headaches, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rash and diarrhoea.

Health experts say the disease has an incubation period of between two and seven days. The mortality rate appears to be between three and five percent.