HONG KONG, Sept 16: A 34-year-old Hong Kong woman suspected of having SARS was cleared by health officials on Tuesday, easing fears of a re-emergence of the disease which killed nearly 300 people in the territory earlier this year.

Hong Kong Health Department director of health Dr. Lam Ping-yam told reporters that “repeated tests” had confirmed the woman did not have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

“All tests were confirmed to be negative. Meaning, it is not a SARS case,” said Lam.

The woman had been moved to an isolation ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital late Monday after being treated at a private hospital since September 10 for fever and shortness of breath.

Before the final verdict was announced, health, welfare and food secretary Dr. Yeoh Eng-kiong said despite the likelihood the case was not SARS, the government was taking every precaution.

“Obviously, the government is on high alert. We are always watching out for possible re-emergence of SARS, although the patient’s history has not suggested (it) but we are prudent,” he said.

“We are continuing with our preventive measures within the government to deal with any possible resurgence of SARS,” said Yeoh.—AFP