A Malaysian woman has been hospitalised and tested for the Sars virus after developing a high fever on a trip to China, including a visit to the southern Guangdong province, officials said today.

The 31-year-old woman was found to have fever, a cough and a sore throat upon her arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Saturday after a tour of several Chinese cities, according to The Star daily.

Deputy health director-general Ismail Merican told AFP the woman had been isolated at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital but her fever had subsided and her x-rays were normal.

"We are still waiting for the lab report but we believe it is not a Sars case. There is no need to be alarmed," he said.

Malaysia began screening airline passengers from Guangdong last month following news of a possible Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) case there.

Guangdong province was where the Sars virus originated more than a year ago, sparking a worldwide health crisis as it spread and killed some 800 people before being brought under control. - AFP