A hospital patient is in isolation awaiting results of SARS tests. It is the first SARS scare to his the Island.

Yesterday, a hospital spokeswoman said the case was being treated with “utmost caution”.

But initial signs were that it was a false alarm, she added. The possible SARS case sparked rumours of a walkout at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and a breakdown in services.

However, the spokesman refuted the report. The spokeswoman said the patient had been referred by her General Practitioner on Tuesday afternoon.

She said: “In accordance with World Health Organisation recommendations, as she had a dry cough and had been to Toronto within the last ten days, she was immediately isolated within the emergency department as a potential SARS concern.”

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) originated in southern China and spread globally through travellers has killed more than 800 people and infected nearly 8,500 in more than 30 countries. There is still no diagnostic test available to detect the SARS virus.

The woman was then moved to an isolation area at King Edward and tested immediately in line with the hospital's action plan to deal with any suspect disease, including SARS, said the spokeswoman. Based on the tests, we are almost certain that she does not have the SARS virus.

“However, as this is the first possible case, we are treating it with the utmost caution and the patient will remain in isolation until we receive further results from the lab. The Hospital continues to operate as normal and there has been no breakdown in hospital services. There have been no staff walkouts today.”

Yesterday the World Health Organisation took Toronto off its list of SARS-affected areas.