Since the latest research shows that the virus is much less contagious during its incubation period than its outbreak period, people should not panic about the transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Yang Weizhong, expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said Wednesday.

Given that the SARS virus has a relatively limited transmission channel, only those who have had close contact with SARS patients are vulnerable to the disease, Yang told a symposium on prevention and treatment of SARS across the Taiwan Straits.

"I am healthy despite the fact that I have been involved in SARS issues since the beginning of this year. It is not necessary to avoid all public events if you have taken some preventive measures," said Yang with a smile.

Following the discovery of SARS in some schools, Guangdong province took a series of effective preventive measures instead of suspending classes, such as isolating SARS patients and taking morning temperatures. These have resulted in a very low infection rate in provincial schools.

The experience of Guangdong indicates that SARS patients should be identified and quarantined as early as possible, and anyone coming down with a fever should go to the doctor at once, Yang stressed.

This is not only in the interest of the patients, but also in the interest of society as a whole, Yang added.

With respect to preventive work in China's mainland, Yang said that, in the regions where SARS was first reported, such as Guangdong, people should continue to make efforts to curb the spread of the epidemic. In regions in which the virus emerged recently, people should identify and report SARS cases as early as possible so as to ensure early treatment.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2003)