Opinion>China
         
 

Cool caution over SARS
Hua Hua  Updated: 2004-01-07 07:28

Monday's confirmation of China's first case of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) since June has not triggered any public panic.

Tests confirmed a 32-year-old television producer in South China's Guangdong Province has SARS.

The public calm can be attributed to proper handling of the case. This included early detection, consequent emergent measures, and most importantly, full and timely disclosure of all pertinent information.

Ever since December 27 when the man was diagnosed with symptoms of the virus and officially declared a "suspected'' case, the emergency system was on full alert.

With no delay, the local disease control department reported the case to the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. Those with contacts with the man were put under quarantine. Any new development about the case was passed to the public in a timely fashion.

All these demonstrated a highly sensible surveillance system. Under the protective umbrella of such an efficient emergency system, people have reason to feel safe.

The active co-operation and efforts by Chinese medical workers also won acclaims from WHO. The world medical organization announced that so far there is no evidence of an epidemic and China is still a safe place to travel. It is unnecessary for the country to adjust the travel scheme for Spring Festival, which falls on January 22.

The initial success in curbing the spread of the deadly virus is praiseworthy, but it doesn't mean the ripple stirred by the SARS case is over. It has merely sounded the latest warning bell that there are still many mysteries to the virus and the threat is still here, even if it is not imminent.

Medical departments nationwide must maintain tightened alert against a spread of SARS. In a sense, the challenges ahead are even tougher with the forthcoming peak season for the Spring Festival travel.

Today the cause of SARS remains a question mark despite the tireless efforts and progress made by scientists at home and abroad.

Though the latest finding pinpoints masked palm civets as a source of the virus, it is still too early to claim that humans contract the virus directly and exclusively from the animal.

Any small error in prevention may lead to disastrous consequence during the forthcoming heavy flow of population.

Though it is groundless to issue a travel warning, it is necessary for all relevant departments to work out emergency plans and take precautionary measures.

Guangzhou has set a good example. In case of a SARS epidemic, the boarding time for trains will be made two hours earlier, and all passengers are required to take a temperature check, according to the city's emergency scheme.

The rest of the country would do well to follow that example.

(China Daily )


 
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