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China in damage control over SARS
From CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Public relations damage-control is underway in Beijing as health officials brief the press on the SARS virus. On Thursday, China's Vice Minister of Health, Ma Xiaowei, addressed concerns about the SARS epidemic at a news conference. "In containing SARS epidemic, we follow the principle of early detection and early reporting," said Ma. Even state-run TV stations covered the briefings live---a stark change from the news blackout Beijing imposed soon after SARS was first reported five months ago. The health vice-minister said more than fifty people have died of SARS in China, including four in Beijing. A retired Chinese surgeon, however, has accused health officials of under-reporting, claiming that at least ten people, not four, had died in the capital. China has come under criticism for failing to report early and truthfully on SARS. But the problem is systemic. Officials in China often cover up bad news or water down negative statistics for fear of losing face or, worse, losing their jobs. Without a free press, and a transparent system, it is difficult to get the full, true picture when a crisis like SARS occurs. In the 1990s, when the AIDS epidemic first hit China it took five years for Beijing to officially acknowledge the crisis. This time, fear of SARS is choking China's airline, hotel and tourism industries -- as travelers avoid Chinese destinations. The clumsy handling of the SARS crisis has tarnished China's image and taxed people's trust. "I think the Chinese government has been criticized by the WHO and by a number of other people for its lack of transparent and credible and timely reporting on this issue," Chris Murk, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told CNN. "I certainly hope that this will be an impetus to improve Chinese reporting of health crises and other kinds of things," says Murck. Beijing has promised more money for disease control research --- another small but important step in the right direction. U.S. issues travel warningThe U.S. State Department has warned U.S. citizens to consider postponing travel to China, and has issued a message to inform Americans about China's policy for anyone exhibiting symptoms. "Any individual in China, including foreigners, who displays SARS-like symptoms will be sent to a hospital designated for SARS patients until the contagious phase has passed," the travel warning said. "The patient cannot be visited by his/her own doctor, by family members, or by U.S. consular officials. Medical evacuation by air from China currently cannot be arranged because no commercial airlines or air ambulance services are willing to transport SARS patients," the warning added. In other developments: • China reported Friday that at least seven foreign nationals have been hospitalized in Shanghai with SARS symptoms. • A new accusation against mainland China collapsed Thursday when the family of an American dying from a mysterious respiratory virus confirmed that they had requested he be moved from a mainland hospital to one in Hong Kong. (Family denies China moved patient) • A Floridian who contracted SARS abroad has infected a coworker, marking the first time the disease may have been spread to someone other than a household member or health care worker in the United States. The U.S. has 154 SARS cases according the WHO figures. (Workplace SARS) • The Roman Catholic church in Singapore has suspended confessions due to the SARS spread. The city-state 126 confirmed SARS cases and nine deaths. (Military call-up) • Malaysia has stopped issuing entry visas to most Chinese travelers to curb SARS, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. Malaysia has reported one fatal case of the illness. • Taiwan has again hit out at the WHO's failure to allow experts monitor the SARS outbreak on the island. The WHO, like the U.N., does not recognize the island. • A WHO spokesman told reporters in China, "SARS will be with us for the time being ... we still have a lot to do."
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