CHINA: SARS has killed 170 people in China and infected 3,638 since it emerged in the southern province of Guangdong late last year.
Beijing for the past six days has seen about 100 new cases per day, for a total of 1,553. In the whole country, the health ministry, said there were 11 new SARS deaths and 187 new cases.
Seven of the new deaths were in Beijing, with the other fatalities recorded in Inner Mongolia (two), Shanxi (one) and Jilin (one). Of the new cases, 122 were in Beijing, Inner Mongolia (27), Tianjin (12), Hebei (eight), Shanxi (eight), Guangdong (seven), Jilin (two) and Henan (one).
The Chinese mainland also reported 244 suspected cases, with 96 from Beijing, Tianjin nine, Hebei 30, Shanxi 20, Inner Mongolia 25, Jilin 2, Heilongjiang one, Shanghai six, Jiangsu two, Anhui two, Henan two, Hubei three, Guangdong 37, Sichuan one and Shaanxi eight.
By now 94 countries and regions have placed restrictions on mainland travellers, ranging from visa denials to demanding medical certificates to quarantines.
In Hong Kong, meanwhile, the city reported that a dozen former SARS patients had relapsed, an ominous sign suggesting that treating the mysterious new ailment may be even more difficult than medical experts had realised.
Of the 12 relapsed patients, six have returned to hospital care, while the other six are convalescing at home, officials said.
Hong Kong reported 17 additional cases, including four healthcare workers, bringing the territory's total to 1,589. Another 24 people are classified as suspected cases. Hong Kong authorities also reported seven more SARS-related deaths, raising the city's death count to 157. Discharged patients now total 791.
Singapore reported no new cases but one additional death, bringing to 25 the number of its 201 patients who have succumbed to the disease. Of the total number of Singapore's SARS patients, 141 have so far been released after treatment.
Taiwan said on Wednesday two more people on the island had died of SARS, and the number of probable and suspected cases had jumped to 174 from 151, as a second hospital in its main city, Taipei, was sealed off.
The latest deaths brought the toll in Taiwan to three, the Department of Health said. A total of 2,621 people are in quarantine, including about 1,100 health workers, patients and visitors at the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital.