Press Release - May 2, 2003

The following is issued on behalf of the World Health Organization :

The World Health Organization Health team in Hong Kong is continuing its visits to residential buildings where there have been outbreaks of SARS to assess the possible environmental transmission of the virus.

Yesterday (Thursday), the team spent the morning at Amoy Gardens again, taking samples both of the outside of the building and in some of the residences. In the afternoon they worked at the Public Health Laboratory analyzing samples.

Today (Friday) the team was briefed at a visit to the Metropole hotel.

Next week they will visit other SARS affected residential buildings and continue their work in the laboratory.

The team expects to be finished its study before the end of May.

The environmental team comprises :

� Dr. Heinz Feldmann (team leader) � infectious diseases specialist/virologist, specializing in sampling, interpretation of data and epidemiology of communicable disease.

� Mr. Immo Tilgner � has extensive expertise in mechanical building systems, including evaluation of ventilation and plumbing systems.

� Mr. Allen Grolla � specializing in technical sampling and analysis and molecular detection of viruses.

� Dr. Ramon Flick � virologist with expertise in mechanical virology sampling and analysis and virus isolation from different samples.