The Beijing municipal authorities have spent 1 billion yuan on fighting severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a senior Beijing official said Saturday.

The latest statistics showed that the municipal and district governments have spent more than 1.006 billion yuan (about US$122 million) on containing the SARS epidemic, said Cai Fuchao, the city's publicity head at a press conference on SARS.

He said the Beijing municipal government had worked out regulations on the expenses for treatment of SARS patients at the initial stage of the outbreak of SARS.

The department of civil affairs and other government departments are responsible for funding the treatment of SARS patients who enjoy low income insurance and who belong to other needy groups, he said.

Farmers and migrant workers infected with SARS were charged no fees in Beijing's hospitals, Cai said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2003)