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SARS Hotlines in China
In order to let our visitors know the updated information on SARS, hotlines are established at Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong in China.
Beijing hotline: 0086-10-64274209 or 10-64212486 (24 hour service).
Shanghai hotline: 0086-21-52285500 (8:30am - 8:30pm).
Guangdong hotline: 0086-20-84194026 or 20-84451025 (24 hour service).
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Chinese President Inspects SARS Control Work
Xinhuanet, 04 - 14 - 2003
GUANGZHOU, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao inspected the Disease Prevention and Control Center in south China's Guangdong Province Monday to obtain further information on the efforts to control severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
Accompanied by leading local officials, Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, talked with medical workers who have been engaged in controlling the epidemic there and 23 hospitals in Guangdong.
Hu solicited the views of the medical experts on SARS control, who responded that intensified control efforts, the early identification of the causative agent, the establishment of an effective quick response mechanism and the dissemination of SARS prevention and treatment knowledge are all important in combating the disease.
Hu said the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have been deeply concerned about the SARS epidemic ever since it broke out in certain parts of Guangdong.
"We are worried about the serious threat to the health and lives of some people, and we rejoice at the recuperation of SARS victims thanks to the meticulous work of medical workers," he said.
He added that, thanks to a series of measures and hard work, Guangdong has brought the disease under effective control.
On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Hu extended his gratitude and regards to all the people who have made contributions to the control of the disease, including government officials and medical staff.
He said SARS control should be regarded as an important task given that it exerts a strong impact on China's overall process of reform and opening up and on the health and lives of people.
He called for continuous and all-out efforts in the prevention and treatment of the disease.
"We shall employ every means possible to cure SARS patients as soon as possible and to prevent the further spread or resurgence of the epidemic," said Hu.
He urged CPC organizations and governments at all levels to create the necessary conditions for medical workers in their fight against SARS.
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Chinese Epidemic Prevention and Public Transportation Sectors Join Hands to Fight SARS
Xinhuanet, 04 - 14 - 2003
BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhuanet)-- The Chinese epidemic prevention sector is working closely with the country's transportation sector, specifically, with bus, railway and airport passenger terminals in the prevention and monitoring of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
"We are currently working at the Beijing West Railway Station to help the railway sector prevent the spread of SARS in railway cars," said Qiu Jian, director of the monitoring department of the Beijing Railway Epidemic Prevention Station situated at the Beijing West Railway Station, on Monday.
Qiu and his five colleagues have been working at the station since the end of March. They inspect trains and public areas of the station every day and
supervise the sterilization work to prevent the epidemic from spreading among passengers.
One of Beijing's two major passenger railway stations, the Beijing West Railway Station covers an area of 150,000 square meters. Every day, about 50,000 passengers exit and enter the station.
Guo Qifu, deputy head of the station, said that all of the windows in the waiting rooms have been opened to increase ventilation, which is thought to be one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease.
"All station employees have been fully informed about the symptoms and preventive measures," said Guo. "In the event of an emergency, they have also been instructed on how to report it to the relevant epidemic prevention sectors, how to deal with it and how to isolate the patient."
Guo said a temporary quarantine room has been set up in the station for possible medical treatment and isolation, with the help of epidemic and health authorities.
The same measures have also been adopted in the Beijing Railway Station, which sees a higher passenger volume than the Beijing West Railway Station.
According to Qiu Jian, in addition to railway stations in Beijing, four other local railway branches under the control of the Beijing Railway Bureau, in Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan and Datong, have all taken similar measures to prevent the spread of SARS in the railway sector.
The latest statistics from China's Ministry of Health show that the cumulative number of SARS cases has reached 1,418, with 64 deaths. A total of 1,088 patients have been discharged from the hospital.
A notice issued Monday by the Ministries of Health, Finance, Railways, Communications and the General Administration of Civil Aviation said that all planes, trains, ships, automobiles, exit and entry ports, stations and airports, should strengthen their sterilization and quarantine work to prevent the spread of SARS through vehicles.
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China to Adopt Measures for Security of Foreigners' Health
Xinhuanet, 04 - 09 - 2003
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said Wednesday in Beijing that China is going to adopt measures to secure the health of foreigners in the country.
Wu met Henk Bekedam, the World Health Organization's (WHO) representative in China, and other members of a WHO expert team here this afternoon and briefed them on the approaches that China plans to take.
According to Wu, around-the-clock English hotlines and websites are to be set up in China's major cities to deal with queries concerning atypical pneumonia, and hospitals will make special medical service available to foreigners.
The personnel in foreign embassies, consulates, large corporations and media will be invited to briefings that will provide up-to-date information on atypical pneumonia in China and materials on the prevention of the disease, Wu said.
The relevant educational departments will also brief overseas students about the latest situation of the disease to ease their worries, Wu added.
A tourist card will be given to foreigners on entering China, notifying them where they can find relevant prevention knowledge and providing hospital phone numbers.
The sanitation work at public places such as airports and bus stations will be strengthened and taxis in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are required to undergo daily disinfection, Wu stressed.
Persons having contact with infected persons will be kept under supervision and inspected by investigation teams made up of thousands of medical workers, Wu said, adding that the teams are expected to report and brief on the latest information in a timely manner.
The WHO experts arrived in Beijing on March 23 at the request of China's Ministry of Health to work together with Chinese specialists on atypical pneumonia. They have investigated Beijing and China's southern province of Guangdong during their visit.
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Chinese Government Confident of Controlling SARS, Vice-premier
Xinhuanet, 04 - 09 - 2003
BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi said here Wednesday that the Chinese government is confident and capable of controlling and eradicating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Wu was speaking while meeting with Henk Bekedam, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) office in China and members of the WHO specialist team who came to China to investigate SARS.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of the central and local governments and medical workers in China, SARS had been effectively curbed with a decreasing rate of new SARS cases and increasing numbers discharged from hospital, Wu told the guests.
Wu praised the work of the specialist team in Beijing and Guangdong, commending their hardworking, friendly attitude and diligence.
She urged all relevant Chinese departments to seriously deal with the suggestions put forward by the experts and make concrete improvements.
With concerted efforts from WHO and Chinese experts, it was possible to make greater progress in seeking the cause of the disease and eventually eradicating it, she said.
On China's SARS situation and prevention efforts, Wu said SARS was a new epidemic disease so countries worldwide took time to understand it. After the outbreak of the disease, the Chinese government attached high importance to its cure and prevention, she said, adding that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had made SARS prevention a priority for the government.
China had urged governments at all levels and all relevant departments to take effective measures to curb its spread, she said.
China had already set up an inter-ministerial conference to coordinate all efforts and a national group headed by a health minister for SARS prevention and treatment, she said.
The Chinese government had also adopted a series of measures to ensure the health and security of foreigners residing in China, she added.
"We will pay close attention to the SARS situation and make further efforts for SARS control," she said.
The cooperative relations between the Chinese government and WHO remained good. The two sides maintained close, friendly and practical cooperation. "The Chinese government is willing to further strengthen and develop such good ties for the sake of people's health," she said.
WHO experts briefed Wu on their work in China, saying they were impressed by the support given by governments at various levels. They commended the professional and sacrificial spirit demonstrated by medical workers in China. In their views, Guangdong's experience in SARS surveillance, epidemic control and prevention in hospitals and communities, as well as international SARS cooperation was unmatched and applicable to other regions in China and other countries in the world.
They said the WHO was ready to strengthen cooperation with China and provide necessary assistance.
Wu said the Chinese government would increase investment in public health and make efforts to set up and improve the public emergency mechanisms on health issues.
The expert team was here at the invitation of China's Ministry of Health.
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Chinese Government Taking Measures to Combat Atypical Pneumonia
Xinhuanet, 04 - 08 - 2003
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese government has taken active measures to combat the atypical pneumonia disease, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao here Tuesday at the regular press conference.
In response to related questions, Liu said relevant Chinese departments has disseminated the latest report on the disease, and prior to that, local governments had publicized information.
With respect to this problem, he said, there's no doubt about the government's transparency.
The Chinese government is trying to offer more information to the public, Liu said.
He said the Chinese side has communicated effectively with the World Heath Organization on the prevention and treatment of the disease and that WHO experts have gone to Guangdong Province to conduct research.
Liu said China hopes that related nations will evaluate the situation scientifically according to the statistics provided by the Chinese Ministry of Health and maintain regular cooperation and exchanges with China.
He said foreigners visiting China are safe as long as they take proper preventive measures.
Chinese tourist groups visiting other nations are not infected with the disease, he said.
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Chinese Gov't Able to Control Atypical Pneumonia: Premier
Xinhuanet, 04 - 06 - 2003
BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhuanet) -- China attached great importance to the control of atypical pneumonia and was able to curb the spread of the disease, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday while visiting China Disease Control Center.
After hearing reports of medical experts on disease prevention and control, Wen said the government always gave top priority to public health and safety and governments at all levels should pay much attention to preventing and treating the disease.
As a member nation, China has maintained close links with the World Health Organization (WHO), and from April 1 had been providing relevant information and data to the WHO and cooperating with WHO experts in studying atypical pneumonia, said Wen, adding that public health departments would publish regular disease bulletins and promote prevention methods across the country.
Deeply concerned about the spread of SARS in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Taiwan, the mainland was ready to carry out further cooperation with them on the prevention and treatment of the disease, Wen said.
China enjoyed steady economic growth, social and political stability and normal public order, said Wen, adding the disease was under effective control in the affected areas and had not been found in the most parts of China.
The Chinese government and people still welcomed visitors from around the world and would take all necessary measures to safeguard their health and safety, Wen said.
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WHO Experts Well-informed in Study Tour on SARS in South China
Xinhuanet, 04 - 06 - 2003
GUANGZHOU, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- "The data we've got during the three days of staying here is much more than we expected," said Dr. Robert F. Breiman, head of a five-member World Health Organization (WHO) expert team in Guangdong Province studying the situation of SARS.
They were impressed with the work of the local government in Guangdong, south China, on the control of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), said Breiman at press conference here Saturday.
The hospitals they visited have done a remarkable job and they follow the procedures and techniques that are used by Asian countries to control the virus, according to the WHO expert.
The local government and hospitals have a job to protect medical staff and health workers, he said.
"We encourage scientists and medical experts here to release their huge amount of research results not only to China but also to international journals.
He hoped that local scientists and experts should pay special attention to the highly-infectious patients.
Talking about the origin of the virus, Breiman said, "We probably won't know for a while what the origin of this virus is."
"We can't really say without further information where this actually originated," he said, "It's really too early to tell where it came from."
"It's always possible it came from somewhere else, it's possible it came from here, we'll just have to wait for more information to come in," the expert said.
At this stage, their work is merely to collect data and analyze the data, Breiman said. "In fact, we don't know where is the origin of this virus," he added.
Alan Schnur, another WHO expert, said that for personal health, the risk is pretty. "If we compare the number of patients with the populations of Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the percentage is pretty small," he said.
"As to public health, the medical staff members and health workers are more likely to be infected by SARS. So we should take necessary and immediate measures to guarantee their safety."
"There is risk, but it is pretty small. That's why we don't wear masks," he said.
The WHO delegation will stay in Guangdong until April 8.
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Chinese Gov't Concerned about Atypical Pneumonia Control: Official
Xinhuanet, 04 - 05 - 2003
GUANGZHOU, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese government has attached great importance to the control and treatment of atypical pneumonia, said Vice-Health Minister Ma Xiaowei Saturday.
Ma was speaking while meeting the five experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) currently on an inspection tour on the disease of atypical pneumonia in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, south China.
As a member nation, China had maintained good, long-term links with the WHO, Ma said, noting that China was dutiful in providing relevant information and data to the WHO, so as to help other countries curb the spread of atypical pneumonia.
Local government and medical workers in Guangdong had made enormous efforts to control and treat atypical pneumonia, and great achievements had been made.
Ma thanked the WHO experts for their work and hoped that they would travel to more places in Guangdong to learn the real situation.
Dr. Robert F. Breiman, one of the WHO experts, said during their trip in the province, they had been warmly received by localgovernment officials and medical experts, who had informed the WHO team of the situation in Guangdong in a positive manner.
Guangdong's experience was of great value as a reference for the global effort to control and treat atypical pneumonia, he said,adding it was a hard job that required the joint efforts of medical workers from all countries.
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WHO Travel Advise
WHO, 04 - 04 - 2003
Please check for the updated travel advise from the World Health Organization.
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1,190 Cases of SARS Reported on Chinese Mainland
Xinhuanet, 04 - 03 - 2003
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) reported on the Chinese mainland reached 1,190 and 46 of the patients died by the end of March, said Health Minister Zhang Wenkang on Thursday.
Zhang said that while 210 remained hospitalized, the others had recovered and been discharged from hospital.
"I say to you here, as Minister of Health, that the epidemic has come under effective control. It is safe to work, tour or live in China," said Zhang at a press conference.
Of the total cases, Guangdong Province in the south reported 1,153, Beijing 12, Guangxi 11, Hunan seven, Shanxi four, and Sichuan three.
Among the 934 patients who had recovered and been discharged from hospital, 911 were from Guangdong, one from Beijing, eight from Guangxi, seven from Hunan, four from Shanxi, and three from Sichuan.
Of the 46 who died of the disease, 40 were in Guangdong, three in Beijing, and three in Guangxi.
But Zhang said there was no evidence to say that the disease was spreading in Guangdong, citing 361 cases were reported in March, down 47.5 percent from February.
While treating patients, Chinese scientists have gained much experience in epidemiological research, clinical diagnosis, laboratory tests, and disinfection and quarantine work.
Zhang said that although Guangdong was the first place to report SARS, it did not mean the province had exported the disease to other areas. He cited the fact that although HIV and AIDS cases were first reported in the United States, it did not mean that the fatal epidemic originated there.
"What's most imperative is to find out the exact cause, and global efforts should be made to define what it is and where it is distributed, so as to bring it under effective control."
He said that the cause had not yet been identified, and it took time to accumulate and analyze data on the disease. But since mid-February, China had publicized relevant information on a monthly basis, and starting April 1, it had submitted report to the World Health Organization on a daily basis.
Zhang called for international cooperation on the disease, saying China was ready to share its experience and lessons with the world in curbing the disease.
"China is willing to integrate its own disease prevention network into the WHO's global networks of viral, epidemiological and clinical research."
For more info, please contact the China National Tourist Office, Toronto, Tel: 1-888-599-6636, email: cnto@tourismchina-ca.com, you are welcome to make comments and recommendation on this issue.
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Status of SARS in China Should be Judged Fairly: FM Spokesman
Xinhuanet, 04 - 03 - 2003
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhuanet) -- China hopes that relevant countries and parties will avoid being misled by inaccurate information and making false judgments with regard to the status of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the country.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made these remarks at a regular press conference in Beijing Thursday afternoon.
Chinese Minister of health Zhang Wenkang briefed the press on Wednesday about the current status of SARS in China, Liu noted, and, according to Minister Zhang's briefing, the disease has been brought under effective control.
The spokesman expressed his hope that the concerned countries and relevant parties will judge the status of SARS fairly and not be misled by false information, adding that inaccurate judgments could undermine normal contact between China and other countries.
For more info, please contact the China National Tourist Office, Toronto, Tel: 1-888-599-6636, email: cnto@tourismchina-ca.com, you are welcome to make comments and recommendation on this issue.
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China's efforts Lead to Decreasing Atypical Pneumonia Cases
Xinhua News Agency, 04 - 02 - 2003
The critical issue of atypical pneumonia (caused by an unidentified virus) was discussed Wednesday at a meeting of China's State Council, which concluded that the epidemic has been brought under control in the country.
The Ministry of Health delivered a report at the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao and attended by members of the Executive Meeting of the Chinese cabinet.
The participants concluded that top priority must be given to the prevention of the spread of the epidemic, timely reports on the issue should be handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO), effective cooperation with the WHO should be maintained and a national emergency mechanism should be established.
China's efforts to curb atypical pneumonia that has claimed the lives of 46 Chinese have resulted in a rise of recovered patients and a drop of new patients, Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said here Thursday.
As of March 31, 1,190 atypical pneumonia patients had been reported in the inland areas of China, and 46 had died, Zhang said in an interview with Xinhua. Of the patients, 934 have been discharged from hospitals fully recovered and another 210 remain hospitalized. Guangdong Province, in south China, has reported 1,153 cases and 40 deaths, according to the minister.
In the national capital of Beijing, twelve people have been infected, however, the disease has been contained thanks to timely and effective measures taken by the local medical department.
The central authorities have expressed great concern and have issued instructions regarding the control of the disease, according to the minister.
The Health Ministry has sent leading officials and experts to Guangdong to help curb the disease, while local authorities have mobilized all resources to cure the patients, inform the public, and prevent the spread of the epidemic.
As a result, Guangdong reported 47 percent less of new cases in March than in February, with 507 more recovered patients discharged from hospital and the number of deaths dropping sharply, the minister said.
He said the origin of the disease has yet to be identified, adding that there has been no scientific evidence establishing Guangdong as the source though the province reported the first atypical pneumonia cases.
Cases have been reported in a number of countries and regions, but some of the patients have not been to Guangdong or neighboring Hong Kong, Zhang said. The fact that HIV and AIDS cases were first reported in the United States does not mean that the fatal epidemic originated there, he noted.
The minister said China and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been in close cooperation and have achieved success especially in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Following the outbreak of atypical pneumonia, the WHO dispatched experts to China on three separate occasions at the invitation of the Chinese government.
Zhang quoted some WHO experts are saying that China's experience in controlling atypical pneumonia is very useful for other countries. Chinese and WHO experts will go to Guangdong for further cooperation in curbing atypical pneumonia in the next few days, the minister said.
He said effective measures have been taken to bring the epidemic under control and to ensure that foreign visitors in China will not be infected. According to him, the central and local disease control departments have stipulated a number of methods, criterion and guidelines for the treatment and prevention of atypical pneumonia.
Atypical pneumonia is a kind of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma, chlamydia, legionella, rickettsia, adenovirus and some unknown microbes.
Atypical pneumonia patients, who show symptoms of fever, cough and respiratory difficulty, are quite distinct from general pneumonia patients, who are infected through frothy saliva from respiratory organs.
The minister advised people to take the following measures to prevent infection:
- Ensure strict hygiene, well-balanced meals, seasonal clothing, physical exercise, adequate rest and reduced stress, and avoid smoking;
- Ensure adequate indoor ventilation and avoid crowded public places;
- Go to hospital immediately if symptoms appear;
- Do not visit atypical pneumonia patients; and
- Tell children prevention methods.
For more info, please contact the China National Tourist Office, Toronto, Tel: 1-888-599-6636, email: cnto@tourismchina-ca.com, you are welcome to make comments and recommendation on this issue.
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