THE first British victim of a deadly pneumonia-like virus, which has claimed the lives of 14 people worldwide, is being treated at North Manchester General Hospital.

Nigel Glassey, from Altrincham, was taken to the hospital's specialist infectious diseases unit after falling ill on Saturday evening (March 15), shortly after flying in to Manchester Airport from Hong Kong via Amsterdam on a KLM flight.

The 64-year-old businessman remains in quarantine at the hospital suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which affects the lungs causing life-threatening pneumonia.

Two people living in London and Swansea are thought to have since contracted the mystery bug.

Stephen Farey, divisional director of medicine at North Manchester General Hospital, said: "The patient with probable severe acute respiratory syndrome is stable and is being nursed in an isolation cubicle. There is no deterioration in his condition and he continues to improve."

Dr Lorraine Lighton, of the Greater Manchester health protection unit, said: "Although there have been only a handful of cases outside the Far East we are taking the situation very seriously. Anyone who has recently travelled to Hong Kong or Guangdong Province in the People's Republic of China, Vietnam or Singapore, who become ill with a fever and a cough or difficulty breathing, should seek medical advice."

The 103 passengers who shared the flight with the man are being urged to look out for the warning symptoms. More information is available from NHS Direct on 0845 4647.