China's vice minister of Health Gao Qiang is urging national and local health authorities to take all effective measures to prevent the spread of SARS, warning that the single isolated SARS case in Guangdong shows that the disease has not disappeared, and may return in certain areas.

During an exclusive interview with China's Xinhua News Agency, the vice health minister explained the reason why the first suspected SARS case since the outbreak of the disease last spring didn't get confirmed until January 5.

Gao Qiang said the Guangdong health authorities made prompt epidemiological investigations and took preventative measures right after the initial diagnosis in late December. The patient was isolated, his contacts identified, and their residential and working areas disinfected.

But because the source of the SARS virus was unclear, and the initial lab testing didn't isolate the SARS virus, it proved difficult to confirm the case. The Guangdong and national disease prevention and control centers reached a solid conclusion only after using various testing methods and comparing lab results with the World Health Organization.

Gao Qiang said that the case in Guangdong is isolated but it is a warning that SARS may resurface in certain areas.

The minister urged national and local health authorities to follow a five-step system to fight SARS. The system emphasizes prompt detection, reporting, isolation and treatment.

He said cooperation between the Chinese Ministry of Health and the WHO in the fight against SARS is effective.

At the request of China, additional WHO teams will come to China this week to assist in research aimed at identifying the source of infection and preventing further cases.

(CCTV.com January 7, 2004)