The two patients -- a 20-year-old restaurant waitress and a 35-year-old private businessman -- were identified as suspected SARS cases respectively on Jan. 8 and Jan. 12.

The ministry's spokesman said the two cases were confirmed after strict verification by the reference laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 20-year-old waitress was discharged from hospital on Saturday and all the people in contact with her have been removed from medical observation without showing any abnormal symptoms, the spokesman said.

He said the 35-year-old private businessman is in stable condition and have had normal temperature for 11 days. So far none of the 28 people in contact with the patient have shown any symptoms similar to SARS and 22 were removed from medical observation.

The ministry has informed WHO, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao governments, of the latest developments.

The spokesman said the three diagnosed SARS cases reported in Guangdong this year were all mild cases with low infection and the patients recovered very soon.

"But no effort should be spared in guarding against the spread of the disease," said he.

The ministry requested health authorities at all levels continue to attach great importance to the preventative work, especially during the Chinese Spring Festival holiday.

China reported three SARS diagnosed cases so far in this year, all the three from Guangdong and two of them discharged from hospital upon recovery.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2004)