Singapore man tests positive for SARS virus

A man has tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore, health officials said.

A man has tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore, health officials said.

Earlier, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a possible resurgence of the deadly SARS virus later this year and urged countries to boost surveillance.

"None of us can predict what will happen later this year. Will SARS come back or not?" director-general Mr Lee Jong-wook told a five-day WHO regional committee meeting in Manila.

"We have to prepare on the assumption that this will come back. Our challenge now is to enhance surveillance networks that will detect and deal with SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] if it does come back," Mr Lee said.

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Other officials said flu cases reported recently in China, Hong Kong and the Canadian city of Vancouver turned out not to be associated with SARS.

SARS, which is believed to have jumped from animals to humans in southern China late last year, has killed more than 800 people worldwide.

PA