New York reports 5 Sars cases

2003-03-29 18:31

New York - Five cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), the killer respiratory illness that has prompted a global health alert, have been recorded in New York, city officials said on Saturday.

The five patients have received treatment and only one remained in hospital, health officials said.

At least 59 people in the United States are believed to have the illness, also known as atypical pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths have been reported in the United States.

The global tally of dead from the killer illness is 56, with the World Health Organisation saying that nearly 1 500 people are infected.

- SAPA