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Four years after SARS brought China to a standstill, surveillance against the disease remains a top priority during the Spring Festival holiday in southern Guangdong Province, according to the provincial health department.

A recent covert investigation by the department found that the sale and eating of civet cats, a raccoon-like mammal which is believed to be the origin of the SARS virus found in humans, still existed in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, and cities in western Guangdong.

The selling and eating of the animal has been banned in Guangdong since the highly contagious epidemic emerged in late 2002 and quickly spread across the country, killing 349 people.

In 2003, Chinese scientists made the connection between the SARS virus and the civet cat. It was finally confirmed as fact in November last year.

"We know eating civet cats is a tradition in these places, but we urge citizens to stop the practice for the sake of their own health," said Zhang Yonghui, head of the health supervision office under the department.

"This is particularly relevant as the Spring Festival approaches, a time when a large population of migrant workers travel back and forth between Guangdong and their hometown. We plan to up the amount of health checks carried out on travelers in bus and train stations."

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2007)