ISLAMABAD, April 7: Pakistan has detected no cases of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Health Minister Naseer Ahmed Khan declared Monday.

“I have thoroughly checked and am certain that we do not have any SARS cases on our territory,” Mr Khan told a press conference in the federal capital to mark the World Health Day.

The SARS has triggered a global health scare, with nearly 2,800 people infected or suspected of being infected and 100 deaths worldwide.

The death toll includes 53 in China, 23 in Hong Kong, nine in Canada, eight in Singapore, four in Vietnam, two in Thailand and one in Malaysia.

China and Hong Kong are the hardest hit with 1,268 and 883 cases respectively reported.

The minister said that the health authorities at all international airports had been ordered to monitor flights, particularly those coming from China, Hong Kong and other affected regions. “We are alert to SARS and prepared to deal with it at our hospitals,” the minister added.—AFP