Beijing Takes Innovative Measures to Control SARS: WHO Expert

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Beijing Takes Innovative Measures to Control SARS: WHO Expert

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Beijing has adopted a number of approaches that are both innovative and unique to control severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), James Maguire, leader of the World Health Organization expert team, said Tuesday in Beijing.

In recent days, Maguire said, the team had visited nine hospitals, the Beijing Disease Control Center and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Health.

"We've seen a tremendous amount of effort by Beijing over a very short period of time," he said, noting he was "extremely impressed by the hard work and commitment of health officials and health care workers."

Maguire said some hospitals in Beijing are very skillful in relevant health care and infection control. He expressed his hope that Beijing would continue to improve its data reporting.

Maguire called the Beijing mayor's offer of special financial assistance "creative".

"Our report will reflect our observations of what China is doing, and certainly the efforts we have heard of and seen are tremendous," he said.

"I am confident that with this type of effort and continued effort, Beijing will be able to control the further spread of the SARS virus," he said.

Beijing Strives to Reduce SARS Mortality Rate

The objectives of the next stage of Beijing's fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) include reducing the number of new cases, improving the recovery rate and reducing the mortality rate, said Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong Tuesday in his meeting with James Maguire.

Meng said that the medical staff and citizens of Beijing and WHO experts had made concerted efforts to combat the disease since the city's first imported case was reported in early March.

Meng pointed out that Beijing would take a series of measures to reduce the incidence of the disease, to improve the recovery rate and to reduce the mortality rate according to the principle of "early identification, early reporting, early isolation and early treatment."

The central government decided Monday that all data on SARS cases in Beijing will be collected by the Beijing Disease Prevention and Control Center, he said.

The Beijing government will provide special financial support to all hospitals engaging in SARS prevention and treatment, he said, and will also provide free medical services for needy patients.

While the three hospitals designated for SARS patients have sufficient capacity, he said, another 18 alternate hospitals in different districts and counties in Beijing have been selected in the event that there is a necessity.

A 2,500-member medical team on SARS control and prevention was formed a few days ago in Beijing to examine suspected cases and disseminate preventive measures.

Meng said, "We will cooperate earnestly with the international community, and we are confident we can eradicate SARS."

James Maguire said the medical staff's efforts in combating SARS had shown Beijing's strong medical competency and good medical system.

James Maguire said the WHO expert team had witnessed Beijing's medical workers going all out to treat SARS patients and the city taking all measures to control the disease.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Foreign Students, Teachers in Beijing Unaffected by SARS

37 SARS Cases Confirmed in Beijing

Beijing Carries out Large-scale Sterilization to Prevent Spread of SARS

>> Full Coverage

China Has not Provided Weapons to Iraq Since 1990 ( 2 Messages)

SARS May not Originate from China: WHO Official ( 10 Messages)

HK Star Leslie Cheung Commits Suicide ( 41 Messages)

The War to Topple Saddam Is a Burden on the Americans ( 13 Messages)

Who Are the Real Criminals? ( 28 Messages)