Australia reports its first ‘probable’ SARS cases

AUSTRALIAN health authorities yesterday reported three probable cases of the killer flu-like virus sweeping Asia — three children visiting from Canada — in what could be the country’s first cases of the disease.

Australia's chief medical officer Richard Smallwood said the children, who have been under investigation for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) since April 4, had fully recovered and the disease has not spread to other family members.

The three children, aged 18 months, three years and six, came to Australia earlier this month to visit relatives, arriving from Toronto in Canada, where 13 people have died of SARS.