Growing SARS Fear... Chinese Government Explains "Cluster Pneumonia Is Not SARS"
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park] As the number of patients with pneumonia of unknown cause increases in Wuhan, China, spreading fears of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the Chinese government has drawn a line, stating that it is not SARS.
Wuhan health authorities announced on the evening of the 5th (local time) via their website that the number of patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia of unknown cause has reached 59, an increase of 15 from the 44 reported on the 4th. However, Wuhan authorities stated that although the number of pneumonia diagnoses has increased, the number of critically ill patients has decreased from 11 to 7. Investigations were conducted on 163 people who had contact with pneumonia patients, but so far, no one has shown symptoms such as fever or other signs suggesting pneumonia transmission.
Wuhan authorities said that the final confirmation process to identify the cause and nature of the pneumonia of unknown origin is still ongoing, but emphasized that this cluster of pneumonia is not of the same nature as SARS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This is interpreted as an effort to prevent the spread of fear amid growing concerns both inside and outside China that the SARS scare of 2002-2003 is reemerging.
As people who visited Wuhan have consecutively shown suspected symptoms of viral pneumonia, vigilance has been further heightened beyond mainland China.
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Hong Kong authorities have raised their epidemic response level to 'serious' and strengthened quarantine measures after 14 patients showing suspected viral pneumonia symptoms were reported following visits to Wuhan. In Singapore, suspected cases have also emerged over the weekend. The Singapore Ministry of Health has isolated a 3-year-old Chinese girl suspected of viral pneumonia infection after traveling to Wuhan. Singapore is conducting temperature screenings for travelers arriving from Wuhan at Changi International Airport.
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