The Beijing Xiaotangshan Hospital, which discharged the last group
of recovered Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients
Friday, has reported a mortality rate of less than 1.2 percent.
According to Zhou Xianzhi, vice-president of the hospital, a total
of 680 patients, including 67 who were seriously ill, received
medical treatment there. Of the total, 672, or 98.8 percent, have
recovered. Six of the eight who succumbed to the disease were
suffering from other illnesses in addition to SARS.
The Xiaotangshan Hospital, located in the northern outskirts of
Beijing, was built during the peak of the epidemic exclusively for
the treatment of SARS.
Zhou, who has been working for more than three months on the front
line of the battle against SARS, attributed the high recovery rate
to a comprehensive therapy consisting of effective medical
treatment, psychotherapy and a combination of Chinese and western
medicines.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2003)