A woman tested for Sars after developing a high fever on a trip to China is thought to be free of the deadly disease, a health ministry official said today.

"The patient is alright. Her fever was down, her lungs are clear and she has no symptoms of Sars," deputy health director-general Ismail Merican told

"At this point, we are sure it is not Sars due to the way it has developed, but to be 100 percent sure, and to abide by World Health Organisation requirements, we will not discharge her until we know her test results," Ismail said.

Results of specimens sent for testing would be known within the next 48 hours, he added.

The 31-year-old woman is being treated for viral fever, he said.

She was isolated in hospital after authorities found she had a fever, a cough and a sore throat when she arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Saturday after a tour of China, including the southern Guangdong province.

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

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 in July. - AFP