Health chief may have killer virus

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's hospital chief has been admitted to hospital with symptoms of pneumonia, fuelling fears that a killer respiratory virus could be spreading faster in the territory of nearly 7 million people than first thought.

William Ho, chief executive of the Hospital Authority, was admitted on Sunday evening "with symptoms of pneumonia", a Government spokeswoman said yesterday.

He was in stable condition.

She said it was not yet known if he was suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which has killed 18 people around the world, including eight in Hong Kong, and left hundreds ill.

Ho has been working on the outbreak for the past few weeks, visiting hospitals, briefing senior Government officials and meeting the press.

Health officials say 247 people in Hong Kong have been infected with the highly contagious disease, which is spreading quickly around the world as air travellers return home from parts of Asia. Of those infected in Hong Kong, 242 have developed full-blown pneumonia.

Experts believe the disease is caused by a new virus from the paramyxovirus family, a large group of microbes that includes germs that cause measles, mumps and respiratory infections.

Initial symptoms include high fever (over 38C), dry cough, chills and severe breathing problems. Healthy and athletic adults can end up on a respirator within five days.

Though researchers around the world say the virus has been isolated, and Hong Kong researchers have designed the first diagnostic test for the killer pneumonia, they are racing against time to pin down its exact identity, which will help them develop a vaccine or cure.

Virologists and microbiologists at the University of Hong Kong say the test can tell a patient has the disease within four to 14 days, ensuring appropriate treatment.

Education Secretary Arthur Li has ordered about 180 children with infected family members to stop attending classes for a week. . Five schools have already been shut.

Authorities in Hong Kong have ordered all schools to be disinfected and will shut for a week any school with a child or staff member who is found ill with the disease.

Fears of a community-wide outbreak have been growing since six schoolchildren were taken ill and two people working in the same office were infected by a colleague.

The disease is believed to have started late last year in southern China, killing five and infecting 300, but Hong Kong is now its epicentre.

The virus has spread to Vietnam, Singapore, Germany and Canada. There are suspected cases in the United States, Britain and Australia.

Airports and airlines around the world have begun screening, and barring passengers with flu-like symptoms.

Hong Kong doctors are treating patients with ribavirin - an anti-virus drug - and steroids. They say the regimen works for most patients if treated early.

Washington has urged US citizens to consider leaving Vietnam and offered free flights out to family members of US diplomats.

There are more than 50 cases in Vietnam.

- REUTERS