Australia: Visitor picked up disease in Singapore but made full recovery; French authorities advise against travel to Hong Kong or mainland China
The worrying Sars virus – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – has spread to Australia via a British tourist who had visited Singapore.
However, authorities in Australia say the man has made a full recovery and has now returned to the UK; they also say he did not infect anyone else after being treated in a Sydney hospital in February.
Australia’s chief medical officer Richard Smallwood told the Sydney Morning Herald that the man arrived in the country on 12 February after a two-day visit to Singapore, and was admitted to a Sydney hospital on 23 February: “The person recovered after two weeks and was well when released from hospital. He was very effectively cared for, all his contacts were traced and he did not pass the disease on to anyone else.”
The disease has now infected more than 1,600 people in 15 countries and has claimed around 60 victims. In Hong Kong, where 13 people have died, health officials sealed off an entire apartment block in an effort to control the epidemic.
Meanwhile, the BBC has reported on its website that the French authorities are advising against travel to Hong Kong or mainland China because of the outbreak. Other countries, including the US, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and Australia have issued advice to cancel or re-consider trips. The UK Foreign Office has yet to change its advice for the region, but has warned travellers to be aware of symptoms.
