Hundreds quarantined as killer virus spreads

The latest victims of the pneumonia virus that has killed 23 people around the world appear to have caught the disease from an infected passenger aboard a flight.

The disclosure increased concern about the illness. Singapore ordered a 10-day quarantine of 740 people who may have been exposed to the virus. A task force was set up to help those quarantined buy food. Parents in Beijing took their children to clinics to be checked for signs of the illness.

The World Health Organisation said 13 countries had reported a total of 487 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (Sars) and 17 deaths up to yesterday, compared with 150 cases in seven countries eight days earlier.

In Hong Kong, where 290 people have been diagnosed withprobable cases – of whom 286 have severe pneumonia – nine of the latest victims are thought to have been infected while travelling by air to Beijing. One of the passengers had been visiting a relative with the disease in Hong Kong. Ten hospitals were infected there and cases were rising rapidly, the Hong Kong deputy director of health, Leung Pak Yin, said.

A WHO spokesman said the reports of infection aboard a plane were being investigated, but played down the link with air travel .

The WHO has maintained since the outbreak began last month that there is no reason for restricting travel because transmission of the disease requires close contact.

Dr David Heymann, the executive director for communicable diseases at WHO, said the position in Hong Kong was causing grave concern. One hospital had 150 cases, 30 of whom were in intensive care, and medical staff were stretched to the limit.