A cumulative total of 5,050 probable severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) cases with 321 deaths have been reported from 26
countries as of Monday, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on
Monday.
The organization said this updated figure represented an increase
of 214 cases and 28 deaths compared with its last report on
Saturday.
The new deaths were reported from China (9), Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (17), and Singapore (2).
WHO said due to time differences, the updated statistics include
cases and deaths from China only for Sunday, not for Monday.
In
a recent public address, WHO Director General Dr. Gro Harlem
Brundtland observed that the situation with SARS was at a stage
where "we have a chance to contain it."
Meanwhile, she added that efforts by countries needed to be
maintained and preventive-measures implemented.
The outbreak of the first SARS case was reported last November.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)