11:34am UK, Tuesday September 09, 2003

Health authorities in Singapore have confirmed that a 27-year-old man has contracted the killer respiratory disease Sars.

They believe the case is isolated but have isolated 25 people who had been in contact with the man as a precaution.

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It is the world's first case of the virus since the World Health Organisation declared a global outbreak over on July 5.

But the WHO in Geneva said the case did not constitute a public health emergency.

The man confirmed as carrying Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome had been working at a microbiology laboratory at the National University of Singapore as a post-graduate student.

He had no history of travel to areas previously affected by Sars and his name was not immediately released.

"It appears to be a single, isolated case," Singapore's health ministry said in a statement.

Sars originated in southern China and was spread early this year to 30 countries by travellers.

It infected nearly 8,500 people globally and killed more than 800, including 33 in Singapore.

Singapore's acting health minister, Khaw Boon Wan, said the man posed a "low public health risk" because he was isolated quickly.

"I don't think it is a repeat of the crisis," he said.

But a spokesman for China's foreign ministry said: "We are very concerned about this incident in Singapore."