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First European gets mystery flu
15/03/2003 20:30 - (SA)
Berlin - A Singapore man became the first European case of 'mystery flu' - a mysterious form of pneumonia that has already affected over 100 people in Asia when he fell ill upon arrival in Germany, local health authorities said on Saturday.
The man, a doctor who had treated a patient with the highly contagious infection, was placed in medical isolation in the western city of Frankfurt after arriving from New York, along with his wife and a colleague, the Hesse state health ministry said.
The 155 other passengers who deplaned at the Frankfurt airport were placed in quarantine, while the 105 others who remained on the flight bound for Singapore were to be placed in quarantine upon arrival.
The doctor began showing signs of the pneumonia during the flight, the ministry said, adding that he had taken precautions to isolate himself from other passengers.
At least one man has died so far and over 100 people have been infected by the outbreak of what has been termed Severe Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a virulent atypical pneumonia.
The World Health Organization has issued a global health warning on the outbreak, thought to have begun on February 26.
The WHO has received news of over 150 cases in the past week from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
- AFX
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