World Health Organisation experts said today they had found “very good evidence” in China suggesting an animal link to the SARS infection, uncovering traces of the virus in the restaurant where a suspected patient worked and civet cats were served.

Deaths worldwide from severe acute respiratory syndrome reached at least 100 today, as the main casualty China revealed that fatalities have been much more widespread than it had previously reported.

China today reported another death from severe acute respiratory syndrome and revealed that fatalities in recent weeks have been much more widespread than previously reported.

Malaysia today became the latest country to announce a death from a mystery disease that has killed at least 86 people worldwide, while neighbouring Singapore tried to convince a wary public that its own outbreak was under control.