China reports suspected Sars case

Chinese officials say a suspected Sars case has been found in the country’s southern province of Guangdong, the Hong Kong health director said today.

If confirmed, it would be China’s first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome since July.

Health officials in Guangdong refused to comment. They referred questions to the publicity office of the provincial Communist Party branch, which didn’t answer telephone calls.

Guangzhou officials notified Hong Kong authorities last night about the possible Sars case, said Dr Lam Ping-yan, the Hong Kong health director.

Lam said Hong Kong has stepped up monitoring of travellers arriving from Guangzhou, which borders Hong Kong.

Hong Kong radio, citing Chinese news reports, said the suspected case was admitted to a specialised Sars hospital in the Guangdong provincial capital of Guangzhou on December 20.

Sars, which is believed to have originated in Guangdong, killed 349 people on China’s mainland and sickened more than 5,000.