Beijing gets Sars all-clear

2004-06-02 13:01

Beijing - The Chinese capital has closed down its Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) prevention headquarters and ended emergency control measures as of June 1, state press reported Wednesday.

In a similar move, the Ministry of Public Health announced the suspension of daily surveillance reports on the epidemic, saying the latest outbreak had been effectively put under control, Xinhua news agency said.

The anti-Sars headquarters, a joint working team responsible for the epidemic control and prevention, was established on April 22 when Beijing reported its first Sars case of 2004.

The notice said the decision was made following the discharge of all seven Sars patients on recovery in the city and the removal from isolation of those having close contact with them.

The World Health Organisation officially declared that China had contained the outbreak on May 18.

So far nine people, all linked to a Beijing virology institute, have been confirmed as having Sars this year, including one who later died.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome last year caused almost 800 deaths worldwide, mostly in China.

- AFP