A joint working group composed of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and officials from the Chinese Ministry of Health on Friday concluded their 10-day inspection tour of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) prevention work in north China's Shanxi Province.
The 11-member group examined the SARS prevention and treatment work in the cities of Taiyuan, Jinzhong and Datong from June 17 toJune 26.
"The SARS epidemic in Shanxi has been effectively controlled asa result of arduous work," said Xu Ke, head of the joint working group.
The WHO lifted its travel advisory on Shanxi on June 13.
However, experts from the working group emphasized that vigilance is still important in Shanxi and other areas of China to prevent a resurgence of the disease.
They said a long-term public health emergency response system, designed to improve prevention and control measures, must be established, and the close monitoring and training of medical workers should continue.
C. K. Lee, an expert from the WHO, said the province should increase its funding for public health to fight future outbreaks of epidemic diseases.
(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2003)
