WHO issues a global alert about cases of atypical pneumonia
Cases Of Severe Respiratory Illness May Spread To Hospital Staff
Geneva, 12 March 2003 - Since mid February, WHO has been
actively working to confirm reports of outbreaks of a severe
form of pneumonia in Viet Nam, Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (SAR), China, and Guangdong province in China. In Viet
Nam the outbreak began with a single initial case who was
hospitalized for treatment of severe, acute respiratory syndrome
of unknown origin. He felt unwell during his journey and fell
ill shortly after arrival in Hanoi from Shanghai and Hong Kong
SAR, China. Following his admission to the hospital,
approximately 20 hospital staff became sick with similar
symptoms. The signs and symptoms of the disease in Hanoi include
initial flu-like illness (rapid onset of high fever followed by
muscle aches, headache and sore throat). These are the most
common symptoms. Early laboratory findings may include
thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and leucopenia