Beijing medical staff have shown great responsibility in treating atypical pneumonia patients since the first imported case of the disease was reported in Beijing in March.

Tang Qi, head of the Beijing Emergency Center, said that when health care workers have been asked to transport patients with the disease, they always strive to be the first to take on the task.

The Beijing Emergency Center provides pre-hospital medical care in Beijing with a 24-hour health emergency hotline.

Jiang Shaoyan, a nurse with the center, insisted on staying in her post though her mother was seriously ill. Liu Hongmei, head of the center's human resources department, made an application to work in an ambulance, said Tang Qi.

The doctors and nurses show great professional virtue when treating patients with the disease, said Li Jinghua and Sun Huanqin, two head nurses in Beijing You'an Hospital.

To guard against cross infection, health workers have to change into new clothes when leaving a ward and before entering a new one, they said.

"We really feel very tired, but none of the staff show signs of panic when entering the isolated ward area," said Jin Ronghua, vice-director of the department on infectious diseases in the hospital.

Medical workers show a strong team spirit and everyday they encourage each other as well as cooperate in every procedure, and they put forward their own slogan of "unity, friendship, respect and confidence," Jin said.

You'an hospital has set up an expert team and the experts are confident in combating the disease, Jin said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2003)