HK Sars tests on woman negative

Hong Kong said yesterday a first round of Sars tests on a 34-year-old woman had proved negative but more tests were needed to confirm the city was clear of the deadly flu-like virus.

Health officials tried to reassure nervous residents the city was on full alert and well prepared in case of another outbreak, after the one this year that killed more than 800 people worldwide, 299 of them in Hong Kong.

Director of Health Lam Ping-yan said tests on tissue samples from the woman had all proven negative for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus.

"All tests were confirmed to be negative, meaning that she was not a Sars patient. In fact, we have never classified this as a suspected case," Lam told reporters.

Thomas Tsang, a doctor with Hong Kong's Health Department, said comprehensive tests would have to be made on the woman over the next few days to rule out Sars completely.

Many residents were on edge. "Of course I'm scared," said one man who put on a surgical mask to visit Princess Margaret hospital, where the woman is being kept in isolation.

Asia went on high alert last week after a medical researcher in Singapore tested positive for Sars in the world's first reported infection in three months.

But fear eased after authorities said the case appeared to be isolated and assured the public it posed no significant risk to others.

The WHO declared the global outbreak over in July but medical experts have sounded repeated warnings that Sars could re-emerge, possibly this winter.

The woman's daughter, who is living with her, and her parents were all in good health and she had not travelled recently.