Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 11, 2003
Atypical pneumonia Preventable: Guangzhou Doctors
The two smiling girls in the picture, both at the age of 20, the left named Miao Chunjuan and the right Cao Zhili, are strolling under doctor permission in front of the infection department of Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou city. They unfortunately contracted the atypical pneumonia a few days ago through close contacts with SARS patients, but have recovered under the careful treatment of medical staff, and will soon be discharged from the hospital. The photo was taken at noon of April 9.
The two smiling girls in the picture, both at the age of 20, the left named Miao Chunjuan and the right Cao Zhili, are strolling under doctor permission in front of the infection department of Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou city. They unfortunately contracted the atypical pneumonia a few days ago through close contacts with SARS patients, but have recovered under the careful treatment of medical staff, and will soon be discharged from the hospital. The photo was taken at noon of April 9.
"There is no need of panic over SARS", Dr Hou Jinlin, director of the internal medical department of infection, who is specially responsible for admission of SARS patients, told reporter, adding that "since February 1 the Nanfang Hospital has admitted in over 80 SARS patients, nearly one tenth of the total number of patients in Guangdong Province".
When all the "Banlangen" and "Anti-virus oral liquid" at the hospital pharmacy were sold out at the SARS peak time in February, Hou said he went to the pharmacy for a small investigation, and found that not a single package was taken by its own medical staff of the hospital. Why? Because our doctors and nurses knew by heart that generally only contacts within 3 to 5 meters possibly lead to infection, Hou said.
At the moment, Cai Zhaoxi, director of the respiratory disease department, returned from treatment of a SARS patient. Putting his doctor's white gown on a chair, he took over the conversation. "The atypical pneumonia can be prevented. There are more than 50,000 patients in the courtyard of the First Military Medical University, where the Nanfang Hospital is located, and none is found by now infected. The SARS patients live at the second floor and no other patients at the third or fourth floors are infected. Even if infected, the disease can be cured. Of the over 80 patients we admitted, most of them have recovered and left the hospital, except three died of serious complications and other diseases. The over ten people currently under treatment will also be discharged after a few days of observation".
"We should in no way scare ourselves", both Hou and Cai told reporter. "Of course", Hou added humorously, "it's better for you, for the society to be nervous rather than indifferent, when you get nervous you pay attention to prevention!"