Researchers in Hong Kong said Thursday there has been a breakthrough in identifying the atypical pneumonia virus, and a diagnostic test will be available at all hospitals Friday.
The announcement was first made by the University of Hong Kong's Chief of Virology, Malik Pereis.
Yuen Kwok Yung, senior scientist of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, explained that the new test will be able to reveal if a person has been infected with the virus within three to four hours.
Yuen said such virus can only survive for three hours in dry places, and he called on citizens to be highly careful of the highly contagious disease, which is commonly transmitted by fingertips.
Yuen advised that citizens guard against rubbing their eyes and nose with their hands, and be aware of touching door knobs and handrails.
Should it be necessary, cotton wads sterilized with alcohol for more ten seconds may be used to rub the nose, he advised, saying almost all virus would have been killed in such a case.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2003)
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