Spike In Chinese SARS Cases

(AP)  The number of SARS infections reported in Beijing has soared to 339 — a near tenfold increase, China announced on Sunday. Twelve more people have died. As a precaution against spreading the flu-like virus, the government has canceled one of the nation's biggest celebrations — the weeklong May 1 International Workers' Day holiday, and urged university students not to travel home.

China's health minister and Beijing's mayor have both been dismissed from key Communist Party posts, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome has killed at least 205 people worldwide, out of more than 3,800 infected. Hong Kong has reported 88 deaths, mainland China 79 deaths, followed by 16 in Singapore, 14 in Canada, five in Vietnam, two in Thailand and one in Malaysia.

In Hong Kong, health officials announced seven new deaths, for a total of 88, and say they are re-evaluating the drug treatment for SARS patients. A Harvard University expert argues that the death rate from SARS in the territory is 18.2 percent, more than three times higher than the authorities have stated.

A SARS outbreak at Singapore's largest wholesale vegetable market has raised fears that the virus has moved beyond hospitals and into the community at large. Dozens of police in face masks cleared the market late Saturday night and put up barricades.

In Canada, a 99-year-old man has become the 14th death in Canada from SARS. The country's largest trauma unit is isolated and closed to new patients after four staff members began showing symptoms, amid warnings that the virus is taking a heavier toll on younger, otherwise healthy patients.

Indonesia has deployed troops from an army brigade that usually deals with natural disasters to help nurses and doctors conduct health checks of Indonesian workers returning from SARS-hit countries.

In South Korea, health authorities consider imposing a ban on blood donations by people for 10 days after they return from SARS-hit China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, although there is no evidence the virus can be transmitted through blood.

No cure for SARS has been found, although health officials say most sufferers recover with timely hospital care. Symptoms include high fever, aches, dry cough and breathing difficulties.

The travel advisory in China could deal a big blow to the nation's economy, said Gao Qiang, a executive vice health minister. The long holiday usually boosts the economy with a wave of domestic spending.

"I'm sure this measure will mean massive loses in tourism revenue, but people's lives and health had to be put above everything," Gao said.

China's Health Ministry also issued a special advisory to university students, urging them not to travel during the holiday.

China has been accused of covering up SARS cases, and the nation's top leaders have recently begun demanding timely and honest reporting from local officials.

Gao acknowledged that there have been problems. "The ministry of health was not well prepared against an outbreak of a public health threat," he said.

"It has not given out clear instructions or effective guidance," he said.