The useful information on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) offered by China during his two-day tour reflected China's efforts in controlling the disease, Dr. David Heymann, WHO executive director for communicable diseases, said at the joint press briefing hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Health and WHO.

Five SARS-hit Chinese provincial regions briefed Heymann on their SARS situation in detail on Wednesday.

The WHO official attributed the rapid decrease of SARS cases on the Chinese mainland to the "massive efforts in mobilizing the whole population".

He said the shorter time for the identification of SARS patients, and quick tracing and surveillance activities led to the rapid decrease of SARS cases on the Chinese mainland.

In some provinces, Heymann said, the time for identifying a SARS patient from the onset of symptoms had decreased from four days to one day.

Heymann said his visit to China was not an "inspection tour" but rather a visit for exchanging views with China on the SARS situation and to assess where China needed more support from the WHO.

"There's much more remains to be done," Heymann said. The WHO hoped to "constantly obtain data from China," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2003)