A sample test of a Macao resident who was suspected of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infection has turned out to be SARS negative, announced Macao's health authority Tuesday afternoon.
The result from the Hong Kong health department has reassured the status of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) as a "safety island" immune of SARS, after the disease broke out in its neighboring regions in the last months.
The patient, a 38-year-old saleslady, was admitted to isolated treatment and observation in the Government Hospital in Macao on Sunday night. Since Macao had not developed its own SARS testing method, the woman's respiratory secretion sample was sent to Hong Kong on Monday for SARS testing.
Koi Kuok Ieng, head of the Health Service of the SAR government,announced the test feedback from Hong Kong, saying the woman wouldremain hospitalized for further observation.
The patient showed suspected SARS symptoms with body temperature measured at 40 degree Celsius on April 16, when she first went to the emergency room of the Macao Government Hospital.Since X-ray images did not show any signs of pneumonia, she was advised to rest at home, isolate herself from others, and consult doctors if symptoms continued.
On April 19, the patient started to have coughs, and the fever continued. She went to the Kiang Wu Hospital for consultation. Shewent to the hospital again Sunday night, when X-ray images of her lungs revealed signs of pneumonia while the level of white blood cells did not rise, which suggested the possibility of SARS.
The patient is currently in a stable condition with the fever allaying, said Koi.
Macao has recently rebutted surmising reports on suspected SARScases. The government reiterated transparency in handling SARS related matter. The government website carried details of suspected patients' hospital records.
Although Macao has remained safe, it has been on full alert of the SARS control. The economy has been seriously affected by grim tourism and gaming industries.
The Health Service stressed that false information could dent the efficiency of SARS prevention taken by the authority. It urgedthe public not to circulate baseless information.
(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2003)
