WHO issues global health warning over deadly illness

THE World Health Organisation has warned that a highly contagious and deadly pneumonia-like illness of unknown cause is fast becoming a worldwide health threat.

The illness also claimed another victim a nurse who died in Vietnam.

In a rare "emergency travel advisory", the health agency said it has received more than 150 reports of what it called "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome" (SARS) in the past week, mostly in Southeast Asia.