One of China's leading Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome experts has warned people to be on
the alert for the possible return of the deadly disease this
winter.
"Warm winter weather is more beneficial to virus reproduction
and growth, and is not beneficial to the prevention of infectious
diseases," Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of
Respiratory Diseases, was quoted as saying by the Beijing Daily
Messenger. "In the coming half month, we need to be more alert
against SARS and other infectious diseases."
Temperatures this winter in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong
Province and the place where SARS first struck two winters ago,
has ranged between 6 and 25 degrees Celsius. This is the best
climate for viruses and bacteria to multiply, according to
Zhong.
Although he said it would not be surprising if a few cases of
the pneumonia-like disease appeared this winter, Zhong does not
believe there will be another major outbreak because the country is
now experienced and better prepared.
Nevertheless, he said, people should stay warm, make sure that
homes and workplaces are well ventilated and avoid eating wild
game.
Some Chinese believe that game is healthier to consume than meat
from domestic animals. However, wild animals have been shown to
carry the SARS virus and are believed to spread it to humans.
Zhong said that people who still believe that eating wild game
is harmless should exercise caution. "These people should be
considerate of their relatives, friends, even if they are not
afraid of infectious disease."
The risk of a reappearance of SARS is considered high in south
China's Pearl River delta, an area where people traditionally
consume wild game and where the warm weather could contribute to an
outbreak. Guangdong Province has announced that it is prepared to
deal quickly with such an occurrence.
SARS killed almost 800 people, mostly in Hong Kong and the
Chinese mainland, in a worldwide outbreak that infected more than
8,000 by the end of last year.
(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2004)