The inspection group, consisting of delegates from the WHO and Ministry of Health, discovered a "brand-new" and "highly-effective" network for collecting and processing data on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) when they were inspecting Hefei, capital of Anhui.

The network applies the latest geographic information technology and is based on an electronic map of Hefei. It collects SARS-related data from its eight districts and three counties, involving 112 townships and streets, four designated hospitals for SARS patients, 20 hospitals in charge of fevered patients, and hundreds of SARS prevention working groups.

The system, by offering intense and accurate information, provides the government with a new model in dealing with public crises through application of information technology, said WHO expert Arne Brantsaether.

The WHO expert said that all the routes and destinations for inspection was randomly chosen and without pre-notifying the local government.

The team's sudden appearances might have disturbed the local government a little, but they were always cooperative, he said.

The group inspected one SARS prevention headquarters, three disease control centers, two designated hospitals, two township-level hospitals and two village-level clinics during their tour.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2003)