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Sars: Pta man getting better
10/04/2003 20:58 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The condition of a Pretoria businessman feared to have contracted the potentially deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), was improving on Thursday, the hospital operator Netcare said.
He was in a stable condition, but still on a ventilator and respirator, said Netcare spokesperson Mande Toubkin.
"There is progress every day, and it is very encouraging," she said.
"He is able to breathe better on his own, and no longer needs support for his blood pressure."
The man was still being treated as a possible Sars case, and remained in isolation.
Initial tests for the corona virus, believed to cause Sars, had been negative. However, the National Institute for Virology continued to conduct more tests.
These results should be known by early next week.
The 62-year-old man returned from a trip to Hong Kong on March 27. He developed symptoms of the disease on April 3 and was admitted to the Pretoria East Hospital on Monday.
During that time he had unprotected contact with 17 people - eight family members, three staff members at a pharmacy, his general practitioner and five medics at the hospital's casualty ward. All these people were being monitored.
The disease, also described as atypical pneumonia, has infected nearly 3 000 people in several countries and killed over 100.
It originated in southern China in November and was believed to have spread through the world by air travellers.
Meanwhile, the Airports Company SA said it would isolate and quarantine incoming aircraft if any suspected Sars carriers were thought to be on board. It would act on the advice of the health department.
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