Manila, Sept 09: The World Health Organisation (WHO) said today a man in Singapore suspected of having contracted the Sars virus does not seem to have displayed most of the symptoms of the deadly disease, except for fever. "We are treating this case with considerable caution and waiting for further details from Singapore authorities," Manila-based who western Pacific region spokesman Peter Cordingley told news agencies.


"Samples from the patient have been sent overseas for back-up testing and it is possible that it is a false-positive case.


"But we are not making any judgement on that," the WHO spokesman said.

The man was first tested positive for Sars at the Singapore General Hospital but further tests were being carried out.

Singapore's acting minister for health Khaw Boon Wan was expected to announce results of the tests at a press conference at 4:30 pm (1400 IST).


"He has tested positive for Sars but he does not have nearly all the Sars symptoms except for fever."
"He doesn't have symptoms of pneumonia based on x-rays, no travel history. Based on contact tracing, nobody among those who he had contact with recently is sick. His fever has also subsided."

The Singapore straits times newspaper said the man, whose identity has not yet been released by authorities, worked in a virology laboratory at the National University of Singapore but it is believed his work did not involve the Sars virus.

Bureau Report