HONG KONG: Another flight here may have been infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the eighth such case so far.
Authorities here found that a 30-year-old man who had travelled on Thai Airways flight TG 606 on Saturday from Bangkok is now down with the deadly disease.
According to a statement from the health department, the local man developed symptoms of SARS during his stay in Bangkok between March 25 and 29.
The department had informed the Airport Authority and the airline. They are now trying to trace the TG 606 crewmembers and passengers for surveillance purposes.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has joined the growing list of international carriers in Asia downsizing to deal with the double blow from the war in Iraq and the global spread of SARS.
The airline announced last night that it would reduce services to eight destinations within Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, from the middle of this month until at least the end of May.
Cathay’s Hong Kong-Taipei operations will be most affected, with 14 flights per week to be axed. Other affected routes include seven weekly flights to Tokyo, six to Singapore, one to Denpaasar, two to Jakarta, seven each to Manila and Kuala Lumpur and three to Bangkok.
The airline said passengers holding tickets for the cut services would be switched to other flights, since no destination has been abandoned.
World Health Organization SARS site
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
