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.

Smallwood said it was likely that Australia would continue to see people with SARS-like symptoms who fit the case definition and would need to be reported to the WHO.

With SARS panic sweeping Asia, Australian authorities have stepped up measures to keep the virus out. This week authorities imposed a two-week ban on anyone donating blood after visiting a country affected by SARS and a 10-day ban on going to hospital for non-essential treatment. The foreign office has advised people not to go to China where SARS originated Hong Kong, Singapore, northern Vietnam or Toronto.

Australia has also posted doctors and nurses at airports with power to quarantine arriving passengers showing symptoms of SARS, with 138 people assessed and cleared since April 4.