Beijing has adopted a number of approaches that are both innovative and unique to control severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), James Maguire, leader of the World Health Organization expert team, said in Beijing Tuesday.
In recent days, Maguire said, the team had visited nine hospitals, the Beijing Disease Control Center and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Health.
"We've seen a tremendous amount of effort by Beijing over a very short period of time," he said, noting he was "extremely impressed by the hard work and commitment of health officials and health care workers."
Maguire said some hospitals in Beijing are very skillful in relevant health care and infection control. He expressed his hope that Beijing would continue to improve its data reporting.
Maguire called the Beijing mayor's offer of special financial assistance "creative".
"Our report will reflect our observations of what China is doing, and certainly the efforts we have heard of and seen are tremendous," he said.
"I am confident that with this type of effort and continued effort, Beijing will be able to control the further spread of the SARS virus," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
