The Health Ministry today announced the possible Sars death of a 30-year-old male patient who suddenly suffered breathing difficulties after initally being admitted into a hospital for urinary tract infection.

"We consider this case as 'pending' because the patient is young and has no history of travelling to Sars-affected countries or came in contact with Sars-infected patients," said health ministry deputy director general Ismail Merican.

But the man suddenly had breathing difficulties and died o­n April 17, Ismail said. "The X-ray showed a lot of changes in his lungs but we cannot label it Sars yet.