SARS Spreads to 75 People in One Day in Hong Kong

 

April 1, 2003

The Hong Kong government said on Tuesday that SARS had infected 75 more people in the territory, bringing the total number of cases to 685.

It was the highest recorded infection in a day since the outbreak occurred.

Fifty-two of the new cases were discovered at the Amoy Gardens housing estate in Kowloon district, which has been sealed off and placed in isolation after more than 200 residents came down with SARS in less than a week.

A spokesman from Hong Kong's health department also said an elderly man has died from SARS, bringing the total death to 16.

The man who died was 83 years old.

The spokesman also said 67 people were in intensive care units in hospitals while 84 patients have made a full recovery and been discharged.

The pneumonia-like disease, which originated in southern China, hit the former British colony in March and has been spread around the world by air travellers.

Including the latest figures, the virus has killed 63 people worldwide and infected almost 1,800 others in Asia, North America and Europe.

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