The 30-year-old man from Cameron Highlands whose death was initially suspected to be due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), was found to have died from a heart attack instead, the Health Ministry confirmed today.

Deputy director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said according to the postmortem report which included the results of a virological examination, the man did not show Sars-related symptoms like pneumonia or lung infection.

Postmortem reports delayed

"His lungs were congested due to coronary arteries disease, as almost 95 percent of his blood vessels were blocked and his liver was swollen. So he probably died from a heart attack," he told reporters at his daily briefing o­n Sars this afternoon.

Yesterday, the ministry announced the latest, third possible Sars death as that of the man at the Ipoh General Hospital last Thursday. He was initially warded for urinary tract infection but later suddenly developed breathing difficulties and fever.

The man had not visited any Sars-affected countries nor had he been in contact with suspected Sars patients.

Asked o­n the postmortem reports for another two possible Sars deaths announced by the ministry last week, Mohd Ismail said the ministry was still waiting for the reports which normally would take four days to complete.

The two were a 37-year-old Chinese Malaysian male who died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang o­n April 11 and a 65-year-old Chinese Malaysian male who died at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital o­n April 15.

To date, Malaysia has reported six probable Sars cases with o­ne death. (See chart)

Meanwhile, three new notification cases were reported yesterday. o­ne of them is a 35-year-old man from Selangor who has been classified as a suspected Sars case. The other two are women in their twenties from Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur who have been warded for observation.

According to Mohd Ismail, all the new cases have been isolated in designated hospitals. With four patients released since, the number still in isolation stands at 18 with Kuala Lumpur topping the list with six cases.

Of the 18 isolated, three are probable cases, five suspected and 10 notification. Two days ago, the figures were three, six and 10 respectively. The number of people placed under home quarantine remains at 17.

Mohd Ismail said all patients in isolation wards are in stable condition, except the 26-year-old tour manager from Penang, who is the third probable Sars patient. He was admitted o­n April 5 and remained o­n a ventilator to assist his breathing.

No way to hide

The deputy DG also revealed that the Defence Ministry will join the national committee o­n Sars which comprises more than 10 ministries and other relevant authorities.

"We need the assistance of the doctors and nurses from military hospitals in Sars-designated hospitals," he said.

Mohd Ismail added that voluntary bodies such as St John Ambulance Malaysia and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society have yet to respond to the call for volunteers to help the ministry in carrying out screening at airports and other entry points.

On the reported complaint of manpower shortage at the Penang General Hospital which has three probable Sars patients, Mohd Ismail said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng and other senior ministry officials will visit Penang tomorrow to check o­n the situation.

Medical officers in Penang GH have cried foul about their leave being frozen and having to turn up for duty despite being certified "medically unfit to work".

They also claimed that certain wards, like the Emergency Unit, is short of medical officers as most of them have been redesignated to Sars-dedicated wards.

Mohd Ismail also assured the public that there is no cover-up by the ministry o­n the Sars situation in the country.

"Reporters are waiting at designated hospitals every day and (if there's) any death or latest case, they will be the first o­ne to find out. So there is no way we can hide anything," he said.