South China's Guangdong Province reported 53 new cases of atypical pneumonia from April 1 to 7, an average of 7.57 cases per day, said the provincial health department Tuesday.
The Guangdong Provincial Health Department said Guangzhou, the capital city of the province, reported 36 of the 53 new cases, 70.2 percent fewer than in the same period last month.
The other 17 new cases were detected in seven other cities in the province, the health department said.
Two medical workers were infected during the period, it added.
In addition, 82 atypical pneumonia patients were cured and three died during the seven day period.
To date, a total of 993 patients have recovered from the disease in Guangdong, accounting for 82.3 percent of the total number infected, 3.3 percentage points higher than at the end of last month.
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2003)