Latest findings: Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan briefs the media, with Department of Health consultant Dr Thomas Tsang.

Seven people infected with atypical pneumonia stayed in or visited the same Kowloon hotel last month.

Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said three were from Singapore, two from Canada, one was a Mainlander and another was local.

The seven stayed on the same floor of the hotel between February 12 and March 2. They developed symptoms between February 21 and 27.

The local has been identified as the index patient in the Prince of Wales Hospital outbreak. He had visited a friend who was staying in the hotel from February 15 to 23.

The Mainland guest had fallen ill a week before arriving in Hong Kong and staying at the hotel, and is believed to be the source of the infection. He later died in Kwong Wah Hospital. The department has briefed Guangdong health officials on the latest developments.

The department also has a list of foreign guests that stayed at the hotel during the infectious period, and will contact their respective governments.

Dr Chan stressed there is no cause for panic among the hotel's staff and guests, and residents living in the vicinity of it, as no other cases have been detected since February.

"Investigations show that the general environmental condition of the hotel is good and that hotel staff have not reported any increase of sickness related to the outbreak. The source of the virus has been removed from the hotel," Dr Chan said.

"We believe the transmission of the virus should have been transient. There is no evidence of active disease currently occurring in the hotel."

The whole floor has been isolated and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected as a precautionary measure, and will be re-opened when the department is satisfied with its condition. Health advice will be given to the hotel's 300 staff and the department will monitor them.

Dr Chan thanked the hotel for its co-operation.

The department's hotline (2961 8968) on upper respiratory tract infection will be manned until 1am tonight, and from 8am to 5pm on weekdays, and 9am to 1pm Saturdays.