Virus-fighters point to nationwide initiatives to beat disease
The nation is well prepared for future epidemics because of its experience fighting the recent outbreak, members of the State Council's National Anti-Sars Command said yesterday.
'Sars has taught us to recognise the importance of a national emergency mechanism,' said Li Xuexiong, a vice-minister in charge of the taskforce. 'We have established such a mechanism and we believe it is crucial to also establish a technical support mechanism to aid us in the fight against future epidemics.'
The taskforce is emphasising 'pooling strengths, integrating resources, working together and seeking practical results'.
It has set up a national research and development network targeting clinical diagnosis and treatment, screening, and the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines.
Foreign scientists and those in Hong Kong were the first to say Sars was caused by a coronavirus, causing huge embarrassment to mainland scientists who had insisted that Sars was caused by chlamydia. A reporter from Hong Kong's pro-mainland Ta Kung Pao asked the vice-minister if he believed that China lost its war on Sars because most of the scientific breakthroughs came from Hong Kong and overseas.