Military

DATE=4/15/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ASIA SARS (L)

NUMBER=2-302223

BYLINE=KATHERINE MARIA

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The number of victims of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome continues to climb in Hong Kong. V-O-A's Katherine Maria reports one prominent doctor says the city's hospitals are beginning to feel the strain of treating hundreds of SARS patients - many of whom are in critical condition. .

TEXT: For the third day, Hong Kong has seen a jump in deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The death toll rose by nine on Tuesday to reach 56. The city has seen 12-hundred-31 SARS cases.

Until a few days ago, only one or two SARS deaths were reported each day, and most of the victims were elderly or weakened by chronic illness.

But during the past three days, 21 people have died. Seven were healthy people under the age of 53. Their deaths have sparked concerns the disease has somehow changed and is becoming more dangerous.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong's deputy director of health, Leung Pak-yin, said the rise in deaths may simply reflect the higher number of people infected with SARS.

/// LEUNG ACT ///

We have now, up to this moment ,accumulated a total number of patients in excess of one-thousand. And although we hoped to save each and every patient we might not be able to do so.

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Dr. Lo Wing Lok represents the medical profession in Hong Kong's legislature. He says it is not clear if the deaths are related to shortcomings in treatment or if the disease is attacking younger victims.

/// LO ACT ///

The hospital designated to look after SARS patients has been stretched to the limit. The Princess Margaret hospital is now looking after about 600-patients. But among the 600 patients, 15-percent of them will eventually require intensive care support. Highly trained staff are not sufficient to meet the need of so many patients.

/// END ACT ///

Adding to the problem is the fact that nurses and doctors continue to fall ill with SARS. Almost 300 have caught the disease.

Dr. Lo says hospital administrators are discussing a number of contingency measures.

Private hospitals may be asked to take on emergency services deferred by public hospitals burdened with SARS cases. And hundreds of beds in regular wards are being equipped with respirators and other equipment to treat critically ill SARS patients.

Victims of the illness suffer flu-like symptoms and usually develop a serious form of pneumonia. Patients are typically treated with anti-viral drugs and steroids. If their condition worsens they may require assisted breathing.

The World Health Organization reports that SARS is lethal in about four-percent of cases. Worldwide, at least 32-hundred people have been infected and almost 150 have died from the disease.

The U-N agency also confirmed that the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sweden each reported their first probable case of SARS in recent days. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/KM/KPD/RAE