Doctor will testify health chief wanted to stop Sars rat probe

A medical expert will testify in Legco tomorrow that health officials conducted an incomplete investigation into the role of rats in transmitting Sars because they feared that any proof of the theory could cause public panic and damage to the economy.

Epidemiologist Stephen Ng Kam-cheung claims that Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong told a meeting with several senior officials on April 5 last year that if no more tests on rats were conducted, the public would have no grounds to blame the government for hiding any facts.

Dr Ng claims that one health official objected to Dr Yeoh's remark, saying it would be difficult to keep any secrets.

Last night Dr Yeoh denied the allegation, saying he said 'nothing of the sort'.

'The allegation that the government has attempted to halt investigation or has covered up the possibility that rats might have been a factor of transmission is totally groundless. What actually took place was exactly the opposite of the accusation,' a statement from his office said.

'Public health was always Dr Yeoh's first priority in all his considerations and decisions made during the Sars outbreak.'

Dr Ng revealed his version of the April 5 meeting in an interview with the South China Morning Post last month.