The United Kingdom has reported its first confirmed case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since testing began in suspected cases in mid-March. The Health Protection Agency said that the patient had already recovered and that there was no evidence of onward transmission.
Figure 1.
A young woman and her pet cat in Shanghai try to protect themselves against SARS
MARK CAMPBELL/REX
A total of eight probable cases had been reported in the United Kingdom, and there are currently three patients who cannot be confirmed as having SARS or not.
Dr Maria Zambon, head of the respiratory virus unit of the Health Protection Agency, said: “As we continue testing, so the number of probable SARS cases changes as we discount people. Since reporting began, a total of eight people have been classified as a probable SARS case at one time or another.
“So far, four cases from the probable list have been removed due to an alternative laboratory diagnosis being made; two cases tested positive for influenza a number of weeks ago, and two further cases were removed this week, one with a diagnosis of mycoplasma and the other with influenza.”
Although the numbers are small, the agency warned UK health professionals to remain vigilant. “It is essential that health-care professionals and travellers are still aware of the symptoms of SARS, as the key to preventing the spread of this disease is recognising cases quickly, isolating patients and following up their contacts,” said Dr Zambon.
Meanwhile, the global outbreak of SARS was high on the agenda at the World Health Organization's 56th World Health Assembly, which opened in Geneva on Monday.
Officials from Hong Kong lobbied for a lifting of the WHO travel warning. China's infection control measures and reporting criteria were also under the spotlight, and the outbreak in Taiwan continued to give cause for concern.
By 19 May there were a total of 7864 probable cases of SARS and 643 deaths reported by 29 countries. China is still dominating the numbers, accounting for 5236 cases and 289 deaths.
The situation in Taiwan continues to deteriorate. In the week to 20 May the number of cases climbed from 207 to 383 and the number of deaths rose from 24 to 40. “We are probably more worried about Taiwan than we are about China at this point,” said Peter Cordingley, WHO's spokesman in Manila. (See p 1109 and News Extra at bmj.com.)