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First SARS case confirmed in Britain    
   FRI, MAY 16, 2003    

Britain has confirmed its first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) since testing on the deadly virus started in the country in mid-March.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced on Thursday that laboratory tests on a probable case had produced a positive result, but adding the patient had recovered due to appropriate treatment.

There was no cause for any further public health action as there was no evidence that the virus had been transmitted to close contacts, the HPA added.

"Since reporting began a total of eight people have been classified as a probable SARS case at one time or another, and the HPA has been carrying out intensive investigations on all these cases," said Maria Zambon, head of the HPA Respiratory Virus Unit.

Four cases have been removed from the probable list following further laboratory tests and diagnosis.

To date 159 suspected SARS cases in Britain have been reported to the HPA's Communicable Disease Surveillance Center.

Source: Xinhua News Agency





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