As severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) arouses growing concern in urban areas of Beijing, the capital's rural residents are also taking action to stop the epidemic.
The road to Baigezhuang Village in Shunyi District is lined with banners with slogans like "Let us unite to fight against SARS."
The village of about 300 people lies in northeastern Beijing.
Several residents wearing gauze masks guard the three entrances to the village. All visitors except locals must register before they pass through.
The new policy, introduced a week ago, ensures visitors have their temperatures checked. Those with fevers are refused entry to the village, said Xiao Yiting, one of the guards.
In front of Xiao was a table with three thermometers in a glass of medical alcohol, and a registration book with more than two pages of entries.
The village has set up an anti-SARS team, with its 38 Party members volunteering to take turns in guarding the village entrances 24 hours a day, said Zhang Yuying, Party secretary of the village.
In accordance with the requirements of the Beijing municipal government, the villagers are taught about SARS prevention in morning and evening broadcasts. Two teams disinfect villagers' houses everyday.
Meanwhile, thermometers provided by the local government have been dispensed to every family. Farmers are required to take their temperature every day and report any abnormal changes.
"At present, our village has not a single SARS case," Zhang said.
Li Suqin, 54, is a member of the disinfection team.
At villager Zhang An's house, Li carefully sprays liquid disinfectant in each of the rooms, missing nothing - not even the doorknobs.
She said it is the ninth time she and others in her team have disinfected the villagers' homes. They have already used more than 200 kilograms of liquid disinfectant.
Villager Zhang An said: "I am not afraid of SARS because the government has already taken all kinds of measures against the disease."
The old man, who is more than 70 years old, now cleans his house every day and often airs his bedding in the sun.
All villages in rural Beijing have set up anti-SARS teams like that at Baigezhuang Village.
Workers at Beijing's construction sites, who are mostly from rural areas, have also been told not to go home.
And the ministries of Finance and Health have jointly issued an order requiring local authorities to pay medical fees for SARS patients from rural areas and impoverished urban families.
No SARS case, probable or suspected, had been reported in rural Beijing as of April 29, Acting Mayor Wang Qishan said on Wednesday at a press conference. He added that the municipal government has contingency plans in place to deal with any possible outbreak in rural areas.
(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2003)
