The regional outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has not affected Malaysia, where 29 suspected cases have been recorded to date.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Joel van Deburge, the representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, confirmed that the suspected cases have turned out to be negative.

Meanwhile, an AFP report quoted WHO SARS co-ordinator Hitoshi Oshitani as telling a press conference in Manila this afternoon that international experts expect to identify the virus "within a few days, at most, a few weeks".

Oshitani, who said the virus apparently came from an animal, cautioned that it would take longer to find treatment for the disease.