HEALTH chiefs have issued guidelines to GPs and hospital staff in Bolton warning them to be on the look out for symptoms of a deadly disease sweeping the world.

Doctors and nurses at the Royal Bolton Hospital are on alert in case they come across a patient suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome.

And the Primary Care Trust has told GPs to refer anybody with the flu-like symptoms of the illness to the hospital.

The mystery disease, known as Sars, has killed at least 78 people worldwide from 2,223 cases.

There has not been a case of the highly contagious illness in Bolton but because of the nature of the condition, fast action is needed to prevent it from spreading.

A hospital spokesman said: "We have taken government advice and issued guidelines as to the symptoms of this disease.

"If there was a case then we would know straight away. Like with all health authorities, it is something that is being taken seriously."

A spokesman for Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "We have not seen an increase of people going to doctors fearing their common cold or flu is Sars but we have told doctors to be aware of anybody displaying symptoms of the disease who has travelled recently or been in close contact with somebody who has travelled."

The emergence of the disease is worrying experts worldwide. The exact cause of the illness has not yet been identified, but symptoms include fever, aches, dry cough and shortness of breath.

The majority of the cases are in Hong Kong and other parts of China although patients have been diagnosed with the illness in countries across the world including Brazil, Germany and England -- where a case occurred in Manchester.

The Department of Health has issued advice to Britons not to travel to Hong Kong, which has seen 708 cases and 16 deaths, or the Guangdong province of China.

Airlines have cut 18 per cent of their flights to Hong Kong after the World Health Organisation warned people not to travel there.

British Airways temporarily suspended direct flights from London to Hong Kong. All BA's London-Hong Kong services have been stopping in Bangkok for crew changes since Wednesday until at least the end of April.