(June 03,2003 )
No new SARS cases were reported on the Chinese mainland Monday -- the first such respite from the disease since it emerged seven months ago.
But despite the absence of new confirmed cases, there were nine suspected SARS infections on the Chinese mainland in the 24 hours to 10 am Monday.
Of those, six were in Beijing and the remainder were in North China's Shanxi Province, South China's Guangdong Province and Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Two new deaths from the disease were also reported yesterday -- one in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the other in East China's Zhejiang Province.
Presently, there are 965 suspected cases and 1,499 SARS patients being treated in hospitals across the country.
As of yesterday morning, the Chinese mainland had recorded a total of 5,328 SARS cases and 334 deaths since the epidemic began, according to the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, 3,495 SARS patients have recovered from the disease and have been discharged from hospitals.
Citing the remarkable decline in SARS infections worldwide, Henk Bekedam, WHO's representative in China, called for renewed efforts to eliminate the virus from China.
SARS: WHO shows confidence
"WHO believes that we have a fighting chance to eliminate SARS forever as a global threat. History will blame us if we have not tried to eliminate SARS. This requires, however, extraordinary efforts,'' Bekedam told a China-ASEAN meeting hosted by China's State General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Sunday.
Beijing should not lower its guard against SARS, said Acting Mayor Wang Qishan when meeting with Henk Bekedam yesterday in Beijing.
The international community has witnessed the dramatic fall in SARS cases in Beijing, but the capital should remain alert, said Wang.
Wang said the city should further improve its disease prevention and control system and be ready for any possible relapse in the SARS epidemic.
In addition, there is still much work to be done in epidemiological study, diagnosis, treatment and contact tracing,he said.
Wang said Beijing had learned from its experiences in March and April and had given priority to early detection, reporting, isolation and treatment of SARS patients.
Almost everyone in Beijing, from medical workers and officials to residents, has been involved in the fight against SARS, and public hygiene has improved greatly as a result, said Wang.
Wang said he is confident that Beijing can deal with any possible fluctuations in the SARS epidemic.
Bekedam expressed his hope that Beijing could share its anti-SARS experience with the international community.
WHO expert Daniel Chin, who also attended the meeting, said Beijing is close to containing SARS. He said the WHO team would continue to co-operate with the Beijing municipal government in epidemiological studies of SARS.
Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi said yesterday that China had confidence, resolve, and capacity to finally overcome SARS in the country.
Meeting with delegates attending the China-ASEAN conference, Wu said the meeting was a follow-up to the initiatives proposed by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Special China-ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on SARS held on April 29 in Bangkok.
She said the meeting demonstrated the determined and concerted efforts of China and the ASEAN countries to contain the epidemic, and would promote personnel exchanges and trade and economic co-operation between the two sides.
Eepidemic knows no border, and only through regional and international co-operation can it be brought under effective control, Wu noted.
