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)