Ten more SARS deaths in China

The SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] virus has killed five people each in mainland China and Hong Kong since Monday.

Till now the disease has killed 97 people in mainland China and 99 in Hong Kong.

Malaysia and the Philippines also reported suspected deaths due to SARS on Tuesday.

According to World Health Organisation statistics, 217 people have died of the disease so far while 3,861 people in 27 countries have been sickened.

China's health ministry on Tuesday said the number of confirmed SARS cases in the mainland till Monday had risen to 2,158. Besides, there were 918 suspected cases.

In Beijing, the number of cases stands at 588 of whom 99 are health workers, Xinhua news agency reported.