SINGAPORE: Singapore confirmed yesterday that a 27-year-old medical researcher had Sars in what could be the world's first case since a global outbreak was declared over in July.
But the World Health Organisation said the case did not fit the WHO definition of the disease under its new guidelines and would not pose a public health emergency.
"From the public health perspective, this does not seem to be an emergency," said Mr Dick Thompson of the UN agency's communicable diseases division. "We have rigid case definitions for SARS, and this person does not qualify."
After originating in southern China, SARS was spread to 30 countries by travellers early this year. It infected nearly 8,500 people globally. More than 800 died, including 33 in Singapore, where the government imposed strict health controls.
Singapore's health ministry said the sick man, a post-doctoral student studying the West Nile virus at National University of Singapore, posed only a "low public health risk". Twenty-five people who had contact with him had been quarantined. - (Reuters)