Two new SARS cases have been reported, marking the 25th straight day the number of new cases has remained in single digits.

One SARS patient was a 72-year-old woman who had other underlying disease and actually died in North District Hospital on May 26. She had been admitted to hospital on May 20 without obvious SARS symptoms.

However, laboratory test findings released today confirmed she had contracted SARS.

Her death brings to 270 the number of SARS-related deaths.

Contact tracing was subsequently carried out, which showed one of the deceased's family members had SARS symptoms. The individual is classified as a suspected case.

The other SARS patient was suspected to have contracted the disease while in Prince of Wales Hospital.  Fourteen patients who had stayed in the same room with this patient are under observation. 

A total of 1,295 patients - more than 74% of all confirmed cases - have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, 10 were sent home in the last day.

Most of the 102 patients currently in hospital under active care are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 33 are receiving treatment in intensive-care units.

Another 63 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge.

There are eight suspected cases, but no new ones.

A total of 282 households (1,230 people) were under house confinement.

LA cases to be verified

In response to questions on two Hong Kong visitors to Los Angeles found to have fever, Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said she has already been in touch with the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention and the US Consulate General in Hong Kong for verification.

She said that if such cases were confirmed and that the fever symptoms were SARS-related, they would inform the World Health Organisation.

The Government will be pragmatic and do whatever is necessary. It will not interfere in the WHO's decision-making, she said in response to questions.

Cross-boundary preventive measures to be strengthened 

Dr Chan said the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau authorities will hold the first tripartite meeting in Hong Kong on May 29 and 30 to discuss measures to strengthen co-operation and exchange of information related to SARS and other contagious disease.

Guangdong and Macau medical and health experts will also visit hospitals and laboratories to familiarise themselves with the work of local medical professionals during their stay in Hong Kong.

The Guangdong and Macau delegations will be led by the Deputy Director-General of the Health Department of Guangdong Province Wang Zhi Qiong and Director of the Department of Health of the Macau SAR Government Koi Kuok-leng, respectively. The leader of the Hong Kong team is the Deputy Director of Health Leung Pak-yin.

Expecting more visitors to Hong Kong, the Government is considering stepping up preventive measures against SARS at its boundaries.

Preventive measure at border control points, Dr Chan added, will continue for the next 12 months. 

Meanwhile, eight people failed the temperature check at  Lo Wu. After follow-up actions, two of them were referred to hospitals for further observation. The others were cleared.