New SARS cases 'on the decline' in China

Monday, 12 May 2003 12:00 AM

China has seen a drop in the number of new cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, leading to suggestions that the spread of the potentially fatal virus is under control.

China has reported fewer than 100 new SARS cases for three consecutive days, falling from 85 on Saturday to 69 on Sunday, although the authorities reported a slight increase today with 75 new cases.

However, the World Health Organisation has warned against drawing any conclusions, as the future spread of the disease remains unknown. And worryingly, it points out that half of all new probable cases in Beijing do not have any recorded previous contact with a SARS patient.

The WHO also claims that there is a lack of data about the spread of the virus in China, which is hampering the authorities' ability to contain the atypical pneumonia.

WHO officials will be working with Beijing authorities to improve data analysis and develop policy options for responding to the outbreak.

In the whole of China, including its outlying provinces, there have been over 6,800 reported cases of the disease and at least 235 deaths.

Globally the virus has infected over 7,300 people, and has killed well over 500.

But elsewhere in the Far East, SARS seems to be coming under control, with primary school pupils in Hong Kong returning to school after a six-week closure.

Children in the Chinese province will continue to be required to wear masks at all times and have their temperature taken every day in order to isolate any probable cases quickly.

And in the UK, health experts are today attending a major conference in Glasgow to discuss the lessons that can be learned from the SARS outbreak.

There have been only six cases of SARS in the UK, none of which has been fatal.

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