SARS patient in Anhui province in stable condition

The SARS patient in east China's Anhui Province, surnamed Song, is now in stable condition, Zhu Qixing, head of the No.1 Hospital affiliated to the Anhui University of Medical Sciences, in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday.

"At this stage Song's disease is no longer infectious," said Zhu. However, Zhu said, doctors would continue to tighten monitoring over and medical treatment on Song until she fully recovers.

Song, aged 26, who is still receiving medical treatment at the hospital's ICU, last Saturday stopped taking hormone and medicine to raise blood pressure, and her temperature has returned to normal, according to Zhu.

"Song's temperature at 9 a.m. on Tuesday was 36 degrees Celsius.She is in a fine mood and can do some exercises out of bed," said Zhu.

The Chinese Ministry of Health announced two SARS cases in Anhui last Friday afternoon. The other SARS patient in Anhui was Song's mother, who died on April 19.

Song, who does her postgraduate courses with the Anhui University of Medical Sciences, studied at a Beijing-based research institute of virus diseases under the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) from March 7 to 22.

On March 23, Song went back to Hefei, capital of Anhui Province,by train and then returned to Beijing by train after complaining of fever on March 25. Later, she went to see doctors in Beijing and Huainan City of Anhui Province. On April 4, she was transferred to the No. 1 Hospital under the Anhui University of Medical Sciences for further treatment.

Source: Xinhua