Seventy-five percent of patients suffering from atypical pneumonia had recovered and been discharged from hospital thanks to effective medical treatment, said a bureau spokesman.

The first case of atypical pneumonia in Guangdong occurred in Foshan City on November 16, 2002. After that more were found in the cities of Heyuan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Shenzhen and Zhaoqing.

Altogether 112 people reportedly contracted the potentially fatal respiratory disease in the six cities. Of the total, seven died of concurrent infections, and the rest were cured and discharged from hospital.

The epidemic had been brought under full control in the six cities and no fresh cases had been reported in those areas since Feb. 15, said the spokesman.

In Guangzhou, the provincial capital, the first cases of atypical pneumonia were reported in late January and it reached a peak in early February. By late February, 680 cases of atypical pneumonia had been diagnosed in Guangzhou and 24 people died, said the spokesman.

But he emphasized that there had been a drastic drop in the number of fresh cases in the provincial capital since the beginning of this month and patients suffering from atypical pneumonia had received timely and proper treatment.

The cause of atypical pneumonia is still being investigated.

Medical experts here said early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensure a high recovery rate for patients of atypical pneumonia.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2003)