NZ Sars victim in China improving

5.25pm

The condition of a New Zealand tourist diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in China continues to improve, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said today.

Mfat spokeswoman Emma Reilly told NZPA the 39-year-old patient was in better shape today.

"Local foreign affairs officials have been in touch with the hospital today and they were told he was resting and his temperature has gone down."

The unnamed man, a long-time resident of Britain, was on an eight-day tour of China when he was identified as a possible Sars case at Xi'an airport.

He has been in isolation in a hospital in the northwestern province since April 20.

The rest of his party have since returned to Britain.

So far the deadly disease has killed more than 250 and affected about 4000 people worldwide.

- NZPA