Six new suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) were reported yesterday, Health Ministry director-general Dr Mohd Taha Arif said today.

Three of these were reported in Kuching (Sarawak), two in Kuala Lumpur and o­ne in Ipoh (Perak).

Today's update brings the number of suspected cases since March 18 when the ministry first issued a Sars alert to 65 cases. The highest number was reported in Kuala Lumpur (25 cases), followed by Perak (14) and Selangor (seven).

Mainly Malaysians

Of the total suspected cases, 80 percent are Malaysians. The rest are foreigners working or studying in the country. None of the reported suspected cases involve medical practitioners and hospital staff to date.

The number in quarantine dropped by three to 16, Mohd Taha said at a briefing in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Of those still under quarantine, four are in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak respectively, two in Perak and o­ne each in Johor and Kelantan.

Mohd Taha said the patients are in stable condition. They have been isolated in hospitals, while their family members and close contacts are under observation.

He advised public not to visit any suspected Sars patients in hospital since the killer disease could transmitted through close contact.

On a suspected Sars-related death o­n Sunday at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Mohd Taha ( photo ) said the ministry expects to receive the post-mortem report tomorrow.

The elderly man from Jerantut died after he returned from Shanghai, China (earlier news reports said he had returned from Guang Dong).

"We believe his death is related to pneumonia and heart failure based o­n information from his relative that he had been suffering from heart problems for the past two years," Mohd Taha said.

"In any case, we will have to wait for the post-mortem report to be presented...he showed most of the Sars symptoms (before his death)."

He also dismissed speculation that the new suspected cases in Kuching were linked to a Singaporean woman who died o­n Monday after visiting Sarawak from March 15 to 18.

'Business matter'

Asked if the ministry could ensure sufficient stocks of face masks , which have been sold out throughout the country, Mohd Taha said this was a "business matter".

"The ministry can o­nly urge the business people to produce more," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the special national committee comprising 11 ministries and authorities set up to tackle the Sars issue will hold its first meeting tomorrow morning.

The committee, headed by Health Minister Chua Jui Meng, includes the ministries of health, home, transport, information, education, culture, arts and tourism, national unity and social development, rural development and human resources. The two authorities are the immigration and police departments.

The committee is tasked to carry out preventive steps based o­n a list of measures endorsed by the cabinet yesterday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a travel advisory yesterday, recommending the postponement of travel to Hong Kong and Guang Dong (the Chinese province bordering Hong Kong).

The new travel advisory is to limit the spread of Sars by reducing travel to high-risk areas. Since March 19, nine Malaysians have been identified as suspected Sars cases o­n their return from Hong Kong.

According to WHO figures up to yesterday, 2,223 suspected Sars cases have been reported in 17 countries, and 78 deaths recorded.