Sars isn't terrible, according to a new booklet

A new booklet entitled Sars Is Not Terrible has quickly become a bestseller in mainland bookstores.

In the foreword of the 28-page publication, author Gao Yuling writes that few people have died from atypical pneumonia and that the panic surrounding the outbreak can be blamed on a lack of public knowledge.

'It is possible to avoid being infected as long as one has sufficient knowledge of the disease and takes measures to prevent themselves and their families contracting it,' she writes.

One slogan on the cover says 'human beings have enough wisdom to prevent illness', while another claims 'overcoming illness is human instinct'.

Gao claims on page one that 'the disease is almost under control and most patients have been cured', despite World Health Organisation statistics which indicate that the disease is still spreading.

The book gives details of the illness and its symptoms, and offers the standard advice on sterilisation and hygiene, avoiding crowded places and the wearing of surgical masks.

It also focuses on nutrition, which it says is a form of 'positive prevention', offering recipes for various types of porridge and meat dishes.