Rumours that smoking can help prevent Sars have been sweeping the mainland. With fears rising over the increasing number of cases, the claims have become a hot topic of conversation, but doctors are worried. Some people say that few smokers were among the total number of victims in Guangdong, where the disease is thought to have originated. As the rumours intensify, fears that many teenagers and women could turn to smoking have prompted doctors to write newspaper articles warning people of the risks involved. No reason has been offered for how the rumours spread, but one theory has it that smoked meat does not spoil as quickly as raw meat. One smoker said: 'We are used to inhaling bad things so one more bad thing won't affect us.' A doctor reached on Shanghai's Sars information hotline dismissed such claims as 'nonsense', saying smoking damaged the lungs - making smokers more susceptible to respiratory problems. Hong Kong's Department of Health yesterday released a statement saying that the rumours on smoking are 'totally unfounded'. A spokesman said people should stop smoking immediately since it weakens immunity, makes transmission of the virus from a person's hands easier and reduces protection since smokers must remove their facemasks. There are hundreds of millions of smokers on the mainland and cigarette sales are a multi-billion yuan industry. Meanwhile, people have been lining up to buy herbal concoctions which producers say can prevent or cure Sars, which has no known cure according to health experts. Ming's view - A10
