The condition of the sole SARS suspect in Andhra Pradesh showed considerable improvement on Wednesday, even as the AP Chest Hospital in Hyderabad sent his serological samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for tests.

Doctors attending to 48-year-old David Anthony said his temperature had returned to normal.

Speaking to rediff.com on Wednesday morning, Chest Hospital Superintendent Dr K Venu said the patient's X-ray too had not shown any abnormality. "The general condition of the patient is excellent. His temperature is normal and he is responding to treatment. He has no pneumonia at all," Dr Venu said.

However, he said results of serological samples sent to Pune were awaited. "We have done tests here, but further confirmation of the tests is necessary. All I can say is that the patient is responding to treatment," he added.

Anthony, who had travelled from Australia to India was found suffering from cold, cough, headache and fever by the crew members of Air-India's Singapore-Hyderabad-Mumbai flight on Tuesday.

He volunteered to get screened for the SARS virus at Hyderabad airport on Tuesday evening. Later, he was referred to the Chest Hospital for further evaluation of his condition and isolation.

Anthony, who works in a supermarket in Australia, was on his way to Mumbai when he disembarked at Hyderabad. He is a native of Kottayam in Kerala.