Health Minister Chua Jui Meng today warned that a protracted Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) outbreak could lead to a shortage of medical staff in dedicated hospitals.

He said the shortage, which would include doctors, was a "logical consequence" since about 70 personnel are assigned to the special units set up in each hospital to treat the disease.

The minister also pleaded with patients in other wards who felt deprived of medical attention to "bear with us".

"We must overcome this threat first," he told reporters at the Penang General Hospital after the disease claimed another life in the country this morning.

No panic

This brings the total of Sars-related deaths to two while authorities are still waiting for the postmortem reports o­n two Sars-suspected deaths earlier this month.

Chua was responding to a question o­n whether hospitals would experience a shortage of medical staff since many of them have been placed in Sars wards.

On Sunday, malaysiakini reported that staff in the Penang Hospital were crying foul over their leave being frozen and for having to work despite being medically unfit.

They also claimed that certain wards, like the Emergency Unit, was short of staff since most of them have been re-designated to Sars wards.

The Penang Hospital is o­ne of the 19 hospitals in the country dedicated to treating patients with symptoms of the deadly disease which has killed more than 200 people worldwide.

No panic

Asked if there was cause for alarm, Chua responded: "Who is panicking?"

He said there was no cause for alarm as the disease had not shown any signs of local transmission.

"I can tell you, I have met so many people and no o­ne is panicking, people are o­nly concerned. The more they know about the issue, the more prepared they are to handle it," he said, adding that people should not "manufacture" panic.

Meanwhile, Chua also complimented medical staff who remained dedicated in treating Sars patients despite the risks they faced.

"Syabas, well done and thank you," he said, adding that they were "dedicated, committed and brave people".

"They have heard about what happened to their colleagues, yet they did not run away, abscond or desert. They carried out their duties professionally as doctors and nurses," said the minister.

He also commended Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon ( left ), who was also present, for showing deep concern over the issue.

"He is always o­n the phone with me, telling me about the situation here, the problems faced and we are concerned about the issues he has raised," said Chua, who toured the Sars wards in the hospital.

Daily update

Providing the daily update about the status of the disease here, Health Ministry deputy director- general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said as of 6pm yesterday, six probable cases had been recorded in the country.

He said out of the five, two had died, two were discharged, o­ne quarantined in Langkawi, Kedah while another woman was undergoing treatment in Penang.

There were 244 notified cases nationwide, 17 of whom were placed in isolation.

On the condition of the 56-year-old Chinese Malaysian homemaker being treated at the Penang hospital, Mohd Ismail said she was "doing well".

Also present was state health director Dr Azmi Shapie.

A 64-year-old Chinese Malaysian from Jerantut was the first in the country to die of Sars, o­n March 30. A 26-year-old tour operator was the next to succumb to the disease, in Penang this morning, after being warded for 17 days.