Four people in Beijing have been detained for spreading rumours about SARS on the Internet and through mobile phone messages.
Beijing police detained the four after intercepting their messages.
Police did not say what crime the four would be charged with.
Beijing City officials have had to dismiss rumours that Beijing would be sealed off to prevent the spread of SARS and martial law would be declared.
Other popular rumours include eating turnips, carrots, garlic or ginger to ward off the disease, or that the virus avoids people who chain smoke cigarettes and overindulge in alcohol.