Guangzhou denies rumored new suspected SARS case

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 05, 2004

Guangzhou denies rumored new suspected SARS case

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A health official denied Monday, Jan. 5, the rumor that there was another suspected SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) case in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, calling such media reports "baseless".

"We do have a fever patient due to pneumonia, but this has no direct connection with any suspected SARS case," Wang Ming, deputy director of Guangzhou City diseases prevention and control center, told a press conference here Monday morning.

Some overseas media reported recently that there was a second suspected SARS case in Guangzhou. "Such rumors were baseless," Wang said.

"We have taken necessary medical measures towards the patient with a fever," he said, "our diseases prevention and control centers are examining and closely monitoring the situation."

"The patient has been recovering and his body temperature had remained normal for days," Wang said, adding that people had close contact with the patient did not show symptoms of fever.

To date, the 32-year-old freelance TV station worker is still the only confirmed suspected SARS patient in the Chinese mainland since May 23 when the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted the SARS-related travel advisory against Guangdong Province.

Guangdong suspected SARS case originated from wild animals

The viral genetic sequence obtained from the suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) case occurred recently in Guangdong was tested similar to that of the civet cats, said a SARS research team Monday.

The research team, including experts from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention of Guangdong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou and the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, said the similarity of viral genetic sequences between the recent suspected case and the civet cats showed that the new case was also originated from wild animals.

The team urged stricter supervision of the sale, transportation and slaughter of the wild animals.

Research proves that the coronary virus gene sample from the SARS suspect found in Guangdong Province late last month is similar to the genetic structure of that obtained in the civet cats from the local open market.

A spokesman with the center warned that the research result suggested the SARS coronary virus found in the human being is possibly from the civet cat.

"We should therefore begin the measures to prevent SARS forehanded and ban sales and eating of the animal in a bid to reduce the chance of contracting SARS virus," said the spokesman.

By People's Daily Online

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