There was no new case of SARS in China in the 24 hours from 10:00 April 29 to 10:00 April 30, but a previously reported suspected case was confirmed, the Health Ministry said Friday.

The newly confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patient surnamed Wei in Anhui Province was previously reported as a suspected case. Wei was the mother of the other SARS patient in Anhui, and she died on April 19.

Wei was posthumously confirmed as having contracted SARS on Thursday afternoon, based on the results of laboratory tests, her clinical symptoms and epidemiological history, the ministry said.

Wei's daughter, the 26-year-old medical graduate named Song, is recovering and has had normal temperature for seven straight days. Among all the people that had close contact with her, 39 have been removed from medical observation.

Meanwhile, the ministry said Beijing's first confirmed SARS patient Li is in stable condition and has had normal temperature for 14 consecutive days.

Teng, Li's mother who was confirmed as SARS patient Thursday, now has normal temperature and is in relatively stable condition.

But Li's aunt, also confirmed as a SARS case on Thursday, is still in critical condition, the ministry said.

The other four suspected SARS patients in Beijing are still isolated and receiving medical treatment at Beijing's Ditan Hospital. Among all the people in close contact with the reported cases in Beijing, 43 have been freed from medical observation.

So far, five SARS cases and four suspected SARS cases have been reported on the Chinese mainland since April 22. Of the five confirmed cases, two were reported in Anhui and three in Beijing. The four suspected cases are now in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2004)