Few dozen people from various cities and provinces in central China have been infected by pneumonia which is quite mysterious as the health officers and experts have no clue about the virus. But Chinese authorities and experts have said that it is not Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

In fact, they have also neglected the possibility of bird flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The investigations are still continuing to know more about the mysterious virus that had infected patients with severe pneumonia.

The most critically affected city in China is Wuhan where about 59 patients have been reported to be affected by the disease.

Singapore and Hong Kong have put in additional measures for Chinese tourists and travellers who are coming in.

Sars virus took the world by shock after it killed more than 700 people around the world after originating from China in 2002-03. It was declared to be an endemic and caused worldwide concern.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission told in a statement on its website that the 163 persons who have come with direct contact of the virus are placed in medical supervision in hospitals and their condition is being monitored.

It also said that there have been no cases of human-to-human transmission of the disease. Many of the patients suffering from the disease work at a seafood market in the city which is a unique discovery. The health officials have already sanitised the area.

Hong Kong has admitted 16 travelers from China with the symptoms similar to those of pneumonia but none of them had been found to have the unidentified virus strain. Singapore had reported about one suspicious case.

The World Health Organization told that it is aware of the outbreak and has already contacted the Chinese government for taking suitable measures to keep the outbreak in check.