Situation under control, say authorities in Beijing
The Public Health Ministry in Beijing insisted yesterday that the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) was under control and said it had not had to seek international help.
Beijing municipal health bureau confirmed there had been eight cases but it played down the risk. Three of the eight have died. The bureau said that since none of the cases had originated locally, the city was safe.
A World Health Organisation specialist said yesterday that four cases had been found in Shanxi province.
Some estimates have put the number of cases in Beijing at well over 100. With little information from official sources, people in the capital have turned to informal channels for information. E-mails identified three hospitals treating Sars patients, but officials declined to confirm the rumours.
An infectious disease expert said he was concerned about the fact that some health workers had become infected.
He stressed that early diagnosis was crucial for complete recovery. It could easily be mistaken for flu and he said a test kit should be developed to identify the disease at an early stage.
The state-owned People's Insurance Company of China, in an advisory sent to clients in Beijing covered by its health plan, warned them to avoid crowded public places and to watch personal hygiene. It said that 90 per cent of the cases could be treated effectively and patients could expect to recover.
Meanwhile, there are worries over rumours circulating about an outbreak in Shanghai, despite official denials.
Newspapers in the city yesterday carried comments by local officials denying any cases of atypical pneumonia. But health workers say Shanghai has at least three suspected cases.
A spokeswoman for the Shanghai government has urged overseas media to be responsible in reporting suspected cases, saying such news could affect the city's business environment. Authorities have barred local media from reporting anything except official statements.
'Media organisations have a responsibility. This work relates to social stability as well as tourism and investment,' the spokeswoman said.
Shanghai residents have heard of the cases in Guangdong and Hong Kong, causing some to cancel trips to Hong Kong.
'Sars has affected our business in a minor way. Some people have cancelled their trips to Hong Kong, though they are not panicking,' said Guo Hao, a spokesman for the China Youth Travel Service in Shanghai.
'The number of people coming to China is on the decline, but I think that is mainly because of the war in Iraq rather than Sars,' he said.
Some overseas airlines have warned their counter staff to be on the lookout for people showing symptoms as they check in for flights.
