A 26-year-old man diagnosed as a probable Sars patient succumbed to the deadly virus early today after being hospitalised for more than two weeks, the Health Ministry said.

He is the second Malaysian to have died from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), which has claimed at least 224 lives and infected more than 4,500 people worldwide.

The ministry said a post-mortem would be conducted o­n the man, who was hospitalised o­n April 5 in Penang. It is also awaiting post-mortem reports o­n two other deaths earlier this month to confirm if they are Sars-related.

Don't panic

A total of 85 people in close contact with the victim had been quarantined and discharged o­n April 14 as they were healthy and did not display symptoms of Sars, the ministry said in a statement to Bernama news agency.

"The public is advised not to worry about this death," it said, adding that the ministry had taken steps to contain the disease.

Officials said the victim, a tour agency manager, fell ill after visiting Beijing and Bangkok last month. His condition deteriorated and he was put o­n a ventilator since April 16 to assist his breathing.

He was among six probable Sars patients in Malaysia. A 64-year-old man has died March 30 after a trip to China.

Two patients have been discharged and two others are still in hospital.

Ministers meeting

Meanwhile, Bernama also reported that Southeast Asian health ministers will gather in Kuala Lumpur o­n Friday for a two-day meeting seeking to prevent and control the spread of the Sars.

Bernama

quoted Health Minister Chua Jui Meng as saying that ministers from China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan have also been invited to the meeting, which would be opened by Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

So far, ministers from Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei and Indonesia have confirmed their attendance, he was quoted as saying.

The meeting will discuss the treatment of Sars patients and airport control measures, officials said.

It comes ahead of an unprecedented Asean leaders' summit in Bangkok o­n April 29 to discuss the Sars crisis. Another ministerial meeting is expected to be held in Manila.

Five of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations have recorded Sars deaths Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said the summit would determine an Asean position o­n Sars, and help rebuild shattered business, tourism and investor confidence in Southeast Asia. AFP