Dr. Yang Chih-yuan (楊志元), sent by the Department of Health to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, said that tissue samples of a SARS-infected Taiwanese couple, surnamed Chin (勤), have been been examined by the CDC lab.
Yang said the CDC lab has found evidence of coronavirus infection in the wife's samples, but no such virus was discovered in the samples of the husband, who is now in the later stage of the illness.
Yang said no paramyxovirus was detected in all tissue samples sent from across the globe to the CDC.
He said he has reported on the CDC's virus-testing method to the nation's health authorities to help them in finding the cause of the disease
CDC officials told a press conference on Thursday that the US now has 51 suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Of these people, 44 had recently traveled to Asian areas where the disease has been reported and five have had contact with SARS patients.
More and more evidence suggests the coronavirus as the cause of the disease, but the CDC said it does not rule out the possibility of the paramyxovirus. The CDC said it is also likely that the two viruses may be acting in concert.
Jim Hughes, director of the US National Center for Infectious Diseases told the press conference that the fatality ratio for SARS cases internationally is 4 percent and no death has been reported in the US. He said the CDC has sent teams to assist the investigation in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Taiwan and Thailand.
Translated by Jackie Lin
RSS