Man suspected of having SARS treated in Dublin

A man is being treated in a Dublin hospital for a suspected case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The Department of Health and Children and the National Disease Surveillance Centre said the man, who recently returned on a flight from South East Asia, has shown mild symptoms similar to those of the disease, but is otherwise well and is continuing to receive treatment.

The ERHA's Department of Public Health is investigating the case, and will continue to closely monitor the situation in co-operation with the hospital and the NDSC.

The investigation follows a global alert by the World Health Organisation at the weekend about outbreaks of SARS in East and South East Asia.

At least nine deaths - in Canada, Hong Kong and Vietnam - have been attributed to SARS, which has been described as an atypical pneumonia or influenza-like illness.

In Hong Kong, the number of people stricken by the syndrome - which might have originated in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong - was put by government health officials today at 111.