No foreign businessman in the city has been infected by the disease, said deputy mayor Liang Daoxing at the meeting.

As a result of two months of research, Shenzhen has accumulated rich experience and drawn up effective policies to deal with the disease, said Liang.

He said the infection rate has been brought under control and that preventive measures have proven effective.

Statistics show that since February, when the first case of atypical pneumonia was spotted in Shenzhen, about 35 cases have been identified in the city of 7 million permanent residents and migrant laborers. Among them, three have died, 21 have been cured and the other 11 remain hospitalized.

None of the medical staff has been infected, and life in the city remains normal and stable, said Liang.

Shenzhen has been very active in atypical pneumonia prevention. The government has set up a special task force to deal with the matter, and a warning mechanism and a special fund have been established to ensure people's health and safety.

Zhou Jun'an, director of the Shenzhen Health Bureau, introduced atypical pneumonia preventive measures and treatment and took questions from foreign businessmen.

Dozens of foreign enterprises attended the meeting. They expressed gratitude to the government for the service.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2003)