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China presses on with effort to eliminate SARS
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| 日期:
2004-01-06 15:13
編輯:
system
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With the coming of winter, many people in China started to worry about a possible return of SARS. Officials say there has been no sign of a reemergence of disease, but a high degree of vigilance is still necessary.
Meanwhile, China has also made headway in the development of a SARS vaccine, though there is still a long way to go before a final success. Chinese Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu made the remarks while attending a forum on SARS-prevention on Monday.
The killer disease has not reappeared, as feared, with the return of cold weather. But Huang Jiefu says the nation is still on high alert.
Huang Jiefu said: "We have set up a three-tier surveillance mechanism, from top to grassroots."
While maintaining vigilance, progress has also been made in the development of a SARS vaccine. Beijing's Kexing Bio-products Company has created an experimental vaccine and has applied to begin clinical tests.
However the vice-minister cautioned against a rush to declare victory.
Huang Jiefu also said: "There is still a long way to go. We should at least wait for two more years. Effectiveness and safety must be ensured for clinical trial."
Perhaps as important as the development of a vaccine is the hunt for the suspected animal reservoir of SARS. A corona virus is known to be responsible for the disease, but it is still unclear where exactly the virus originally came from. Finding the animal host of the virus may help scientists prevent it from jumping again to humans, and so eliminate the disease for good.
WHO representative Henk Bekedam said: "It is equally important to find out which animals carry and support the virus."
While global efforts have been stepped up to find the origin of SARS and to eliminate it, Henk Bekedam warned about safety issues during such efforts. He said: "In labs that keep specimen of SARS, biosafety is an important issue. The Singapore case is a very clear reminder."
The two officials made these remarks at a two-day forum on SARS prevention and control. The forum is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Health and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is the latest effort by the two governments to strengthen cooperation in the prevention and research of SARS.
The Italian government donated 1 million US dollars in emergency aid to China after the SARS outbreak. Despite fears, SARS has not reemerged this winter. But experts caution that vigilance is still necessary.
Meanwhile, China has pressed on with its efforts to eventually eradicate the disease, with a heightened degree of international cooperation. |
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