Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday
after nearly finishing a five-day inspection on the atypical
pneumonia epidemic that Guangzhou is still a safe place for
business people and travelers.
"From my personal point of view, I don't really think having
business and traveling activities here will be a big risk," said
James Maguire, one of the five-member WHO team. "Those activities
should be normally held and pretty safe."
Dr. Robert F. Breiman, chief of the team, told Xinhua on Monday
that "During these days, I don't really see anything abnormal here.
People are leading ordinary lives."
The five-member team, sent by the WHO at the request of China's
Ministry of Health, arrived in Guangzhou, capital of south China's
Guangdong province, on April 3.
Through scientific inspections in Guangdong, where the first case
of atypical pneumonia in the Chinese mainland was discovered,
experts expected to find some useful original data as a reference
for scientists around the world to uncover a possible remedy for
the epidemic.
"I
can be very sure to say that all the data and information we've got
here are accurate and complete, which will be a lot of help to
other countries and regions," said Dr. Wolfgang Preiser, a WHO
expert from Germany, adding that they had held many meetings and
discussions with Chinese specialists on concerned topics.
After completion of the inspection, WHO experts Monday had a chance
to view Guangzhou urban scenery on a boat sailing on the Zhujiang
River meandering through the city. Breiman noticed local residents
walking casually along the river banks.
"I
don't see people wearing masks here," he said.
Preiser said, "It's a gorgeous view along the river and it's a pity
that we don't have enough time to see this city as our schedule is
very tight."
Guangdong governor Huang Huahua expressed gratitude for the
experts' efforts and expected the problem would be resolved fast
through effective cooperation.
By
April 5, 82.2 percent of the atypical pneumonia patients had
completely recovered and left hospitals, and the amount of new
cases is greatly dropping, said the governor.
The epidemic was first reported in Guangdong Province on Jan. 23,
and as of April 5, 1,247 atypical pneumonia cases had been reported
in the inland areas of China, and 51 had died, according to sources
from the Ministry of Health.
China and the WHO have been in close cooperation and have achieved
success especially in the prevention and control of infectious
diseases, said Health Minister Zhang Wenkang at a recent press
conference in Beijing.
The minister added that effective measures have been taken to bring
the epidemic under control and to ensure that foreign visitors in
China will not be infected.
According to him, the central and local disease control departments
have stipulated a number of methods, criteria and guidelines for
the treatment and prevention of atypical pneumonia.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said recently that China attached great
importance to the control of atypical pneumonia and was able to
curb the spread of the disease.
The Chinese government and people still welcomed visitors from
around the world and would take all necessary measures to safeguard
their health and safety, Wen said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2003)
