As another healthy, younger victim dies, a hospitals chief announces a probe of deaths among such patients
Sars claimed a record seven lives in Hong Kong yesterday - including a 49-year-old man whose death brought warnings from medical chiefs that the virus is killing younger, otherwise healthy people.
The new daily record follows the deaths at the weekend of six people aged 35 to 52, all previously in good health. Acting Hospital Authority chief Ko Wing-man announced an investigation into the deaths, adding that younger people must not expect to be spared by the outbreak.
'Our clinical experts have been very bold in using new drugs, including combination Ribavarin and steroids. Eighty to 90 per cent [of all patients] have responded well,' Dr Ko said. '[But] I do not want to send a message that younger patients definitely will all recover.''
The 49-year-old man was apparently in previously good health - unlike most of the elderly victims who also died yesterday.
Investigations were being conducted into why seemingly healthy, younger adults were dying from severe acute respiratory syndrome, Dr Ko said. The World Health Organisation also said it would examine the deaths of younger patients. A spokeswoman for the WHO's regional office in Manila said there was no evidence the virus had become more virulent.
Before yesterday, the highest one-day death toll from Sars in Hong Kong had been five - on Sunday. Dr Ko said: 'The upward trend of fatalities may have to do with the increase in the overall number of patients.'
