Hong Kong in chaos over mystery disease fears

Hong Kong today ordered more than 1,000 people who may have been exposed to a mysterious disease to be quarantined.

All the territory’s schools will be closed from Monday until April 6 to try to halt the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which has killed 10 people in Hong Kong.

“For the sake of our health and for the sake of the health in our community, we must win this battle,” said chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, the leader of the Hong Kong government.

He said the 1,080 were believed to have been in close contact with SARS victims.

They could be fined or even jailed if they do not stay at home and regularly call health officials over a 10-day period.