AFP (Agence France-Presse): WHO puzzled over how certain Chinese SARS patients became sick

Thursday, 22-May-2003

BEIJING, May 22 (AFP) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Thursday it was concerned about the number of SARS patients in China who fell ill despite having no reported contact with other SARS sufferers.

A WHO statement said current data showed around half of all people suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China reported no known contact with another sufferer, the way SARS is usually transmitted.

"World Health Organization epidemiologists are concerned about the number of SARS patients reported in Beijing and elsewhere in China who have not had a known contact with other SARS victims," said the statement.

"The discrepancy may reflect incomplete evaluation of contacts or unrecognized sources of community transmission. China, in collaboration with WHO, is doing a thorough investigation of the problem."

China, the country hardest hit by SARS, Thursday reported 26 new cases of the illness bringing the total number of cases to 5,271. The illness has killed 300 people in the country.

http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bz/Qhealth-sars-china-who.R4rr_DyM.html

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