Fed: Woman in Canberra Hospital with SARS symptoms

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Fed: Woman in Canberra Hospital with SARS symptoms

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - A woman who visited Singapore has reportedly been admittedto Canberra Hospital with symptoms associated with the deadly pneumonia which has killed59 people worldwide.

The 26-year-old woman was in isolation at the hospital with her case under investigation,ACT Deputy Chief Health Officer Charles Guest told The Canberra Times.

Commonwealth chief medical officer Richard Smallwood yesterday said Australia remainedclear of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) but authorities were on alert to spotit early.

SARS has now infected more than 1,600 people in 15 countries and has killed at least 59 people.

In Hong Kong, where 13 people have died, authorities isolated an entire housing blockfor 10 days in an attempt to control the epidemic after 213 people were found to be infected.

So far, no one in Australia has been found to be infected, but authorities have investigatedup to 40 suspected cases.

Two people in NSW yesterday remained under investigation but had recovered and wereno longer in hospital.

Two other men in the ACT who showed similar symptoms had been reportedly cleared butwere being monitored.

AAP lm/ge

KEYWORD: PNEUMONIA AUST ACT