The Health Ministry reported two new suspected Sars cases today, both of which involved individuals who had recently visited Singapore.

The two were a man from Melaka who worked in a biscuit factory in Singapore and a bus driver from Perak, said Health Ministry deputy director-general Dr Ismail Merican.

"The Melaka man had been in Singapore for six months and he had fever and coughs after returning from the republic o­n May 11," Ismail was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

"He was admitted to Melaka Hospital o­n May 12 and as of yesterday, his condition was reported stable," he said at the Health Ministry's daily Sars briefing.

Ismail added that the Perak bus driver, who last visited Singapore o­n May 4, developed Sars symptoms the same day but did not seek medical treatment. 






 The driver went for treatment at Ipoh Hospital a week later and his condition is now stable.




 
 Ismail said the number of probable Sars cases in the country remained at seven including two deaths.




 Suspected cases are patients with Sars symptoms who have had close contacts with probable Sars patients and have travelled to highly-affected Sars countries, while probable cases refer to suspected Sars patients who have developed pneumonia and respiratory symptoms.




 According to Ismail, as of yesterday 14 patients had been admitted to isolation wards nationwide where eight had recovered and been discharged from the hospitals.




 
 




 
  Thermal scanner installed
 








 Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has reported 7,548 Sars cases as of 6pm yesterday, up 111 cases including 21 deaths.




 The deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak has killed more than 550 people globally.




 Ismail said 80 new cases were reported in China, 23 in Taiwan, six in Hong Kong and two in India.




 China recorded the highest Sars fatality yesterday with 10, followed by seven in Hong Kong and four in Taiwan.




 Ismail also said six static thermal scanners will be installed today at the KL International Airport in Sepang and checkpoints at the Malaysia-Singapore border.