Chinese Ministry of Health reported one case of severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS) and a suspected case in Anhui Province
Friday. The suspected case in Beijing was confirmed and a new
suspected case was reported, according to the ministry’s
spokesman.
The 26-year-old SARS patient surnamed Song, female, is a
postgraduate student at Anhui University of Medical Science. She
studied at a laboratory of the Chinese Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in Beijing from March 7 to 22. She traveled by
train between Beijing and Anhui from the end of March to early
April.
On March 29, she went to see the doctor in Beijing's Jiangong
Hospital which is near the Chinese CDC and was hospitalized for
pneumonia. On April 2, she returned to Anhui. The suspected SARS
patient was her mother who had taken care of her since March 31 and
died on April 19.
The investigation shows that the Beijing nurse surnamed Li
tended the Anhui student when she was treated in Jiangong Hospital
between March 29 and April 2. Li was confirmed today as a SARS
patient. At present, her temperature has returned to normal. Five
people who had close contact with her and have shown some SARS
symptoms, such as fever, have been quarantined.
A total of 171 people who have had close contact with the nurse
have been identified and put under medical observation.
The new suspected case reported in Beijing is also associated
with the Beijing lab. The patient surnamed Yang, 31, is a
post-doctorate?researcher working with the lab. He got a fever
on April 17 and was sent to Ditan Hospital for treatment on April
22.
In view that both Song and Yang worked in the same lab, some
experts consider that the current attack of the SARS virus may be
caused by lab infection. The Ministry of Health has arranged
closure of the Virus Prevention and Control Institute under the
Chinese CDC where the lab is located and relevant institute staff
has been put under medical observation. Experts have been organized
to probe into the source of infection.
(China.org.cn April 23, 2004)