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Peking (pte041/06.05.2003/15:42) - The Chinese government has expressed increased concern about the rising number of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases within its borders.
According to government head Wen Jiabao, the situation in Peking has become increasingly dramatic and an enormous amount of hard work will be required to control the epidemic.
The Chinese state news agency Xinhua http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/index.htm has reported over 16,000 people quarantined in Peking. It also reports that there have been no cases of remission among the 1,400 patients who have recovered from SARS. With 1,900 known infections, Peking is considered the centre of the disease. Over a hundred new infections are reported daily. In China over 206 people have died from the disease, 103 of them in Peking.
EU health ministers are meeting today in Brussels to discuss health and safety measures to be taken against the further spread of SARS. The ministers will mainly be discussing security measures in the member states. Italy, which has had nine cases of SARS and is therefore the hardest hit country in Europe, is demanding health checks for all travellers from high risk countries.
A total of 31 suspected cases of SARS have been registered in the EU, of which 21 are considered now cured.
World Health Organization http://www.who.int director Gro Harlem Brundtland is also taking part in the meeting in Brussels. (newsfox-special SARS)
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