It noted that of Tuesday April 1, there was a total of 1,804 reported cases of SARS and 62 deaths in 15 countries.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Robert Cummings listed the 15 affected countries as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China), France, Germany, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

The figures, he said in a statement yesterday, represent an increase of 182 cases and four deaths compared to the figures for March 31.

According to the CMO, the ministry continues to monitor those persons who may have travelled into the country from the most severely affected areas.

"At the time of writing this update, it has been brought to our attention that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a travel advisory, urging caution regarding travel to Guangdong Province in China and Hong Kong," Cummings said.

"China remains the country with the largest number of cases with the majority occurring in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong. The transmission dynamics of the causal agent are still not clearly understood and the majority of persons with the disease were linked either directly or indirectly to individuals who were in close contact with a SARS case.

"Even though the majority of cases of the disease are primarily limited to travellers and persons who have had close contact with SARS patients, concern has been expressed that there may exist the potential for community spread.