In the first ever Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome case reported from the south, a 60-year-old air passenger, who landed in Chennai airport late on Wednesday night with symptoms of SARS, has been referred to the Government Communicable Disease Hospital in north Chennai.

Vijay Swaminathan, hailing from Chennai, returned to the city after a brief visit to Singapore and Japan, where SARS has affected several people.

On his return last night by a Singapore Airlines flight, he complained of high fever to the airport doctors.

Since they found symptoms of SARS in him, he was taken to the hospital, airport sources said.