Four years after SARS brought China to a standstill,
surveillance against the disease remains a top priority during the
Spring Festival holiday in southern Guangdong Province, according
to the provincial health department.
A recent covert investigation by the department found that the
sale and eating of civet cats, a raccoon-like mammal which is
believed to be the origin of the SARS virus found in humans, still
existed in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, and cities in western
Guangdong.
The selling and eating of the animal has been banned in
Guangdong since the highly contagious epidemic emerged in late 2002
and quickly spread across the country, killing 349 people.
In 2003, Chinese scientists made the connection between the SARS
virus and the civet cat. It was finally confirmed as fact in
November last year.
"We know eating civet cats is a tradition in these places, but
we urge citizens to stop the practice for the sake of their own
health," said Zhang Yonghui, head of the health supervision office
under the department.
"This is particularly relevant as the Spring Festival
approaches, a time when a large population of migrant workers
travel back and forth between Guangdong and their hometown. We plan
to up the amount of health checks carried out on travelers in bus
and train stations."
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2007)