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The joint expert team of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese Ministry of Public Health wrapped up its two-day survey trip in China's eastern Anhui Province Friday afternoon, where two diagnosed SARS cases were spotted.
Jeff Gilbert, a prestigious WHO expert on influenza, told Xinhua that the expert team got the impression that the SARS control measures have been put in place timely in Anhui and local health authorities have taken the issue very seriously.
Currently, the SARS epidemic was under control and it was not likely to have another large SARS outbreak, he said.
During the team's stay there, the experts visited and had a face-to-face talk with a medical postgraduate surnamed Song, who had been diagnosed as a SARS patient. The team also inspected the laboratories where Song used to work, trying to sort out some clues for her infection.
Gilbert said the 26-year-old recovering SARS patient was able to answer all the questions they raised.
With the onset of May Day holiday, millions of Chinese will set off for traveling. Gilbert said the large number of travelers would possibly increase the risks, since SARS has been proved to be effectively transmitted through moving vehicle.
But, as SARS epidemic has been basically put under control so traveling people can be at ease, he said.
In addition, Gilbert suggested the Chinese government improving SARS monitoring efforts, especially for medical researchers or health staff working at laboratories.
On Friday afternoon, the Ministry of Health reported no new SARS infection in China for the past 24 hours, but said a previously reported suspected case in Anhui was confirmed.
The newly confirmed SARS patient surnamed Wei in Anhui province had been previously reported as a suspected case. Wei was Song's mother, and she died on April 19.
The ministry said Beijing's first confirmed SARS patient Li is in stable condition with a normal temperature for 14 consecutive days.
Teng, Li's mother who was confirmed as SARS patient Thursday, now has normal temperature and is in relatively stable condition.
But Li's aunt, also proven as a SARS case on Thursday, is still in critical condition, the ministry added.
The other four suspected SARS patients in Beijing are still under isolated medical treatment at the Ditan Hospital. Among all the people in close contact with the reported cases in Beijing, 43 have been freed from medical observation.
So far, five SARS cases and four suspected SARS cases have been reported on the Chinese mainland since April 22. Of the five confirmed cases, two were reported in Anhui and three in Beijing. The four suspected cases are now in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2004)
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