The
outbreak of the Sars virus in China is a grave and long-term
problem, the country's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has said.
His comments came after a special meeting of regional leaders
in the Thai capital, Bangkok, which agreed measures to combat
the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) says the spread of the disease
has peaked in all affected countries but China, which has
been worst-hit and has more than 3,300 cases.
Thousands remain under quarantine at hospitals in the capital
Beijing. On Tuesday China reported nine new Sars deaths -
bringing its total to 147 - and 202 new cases.
Hong Kong reported 12 more deaths and 15 new cases of the
disease.
"China's situation in terms of Sars is still grave," Mr Wen
told a news conference.
China town riots over Sars
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"There is a surge in the number of reported cases. There is
a tendency of the epidemic spreading to other regions.
"There is a need for us to recognise the fact that Sars is
going to be a long-term epidemic."
But he expressed confidence that the disease could ultimately
be controlled.
China has received international criticism for its handling
of Sars, which is believed to have taken hold in the country
last November but was concealed by local government officials.
Mr Wen acknowledged that the initial response of the Chinese
Government to the outbreak was inadequate, and said his government
would deal severely with any official who tried to cover up
information about the disease.
Border screening
The meeting in Bangkok brought together China, Japan and the
countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).
Mr Wen backed a series of practical measures agreed at the
meeting, including sharing information, setting up a regional
Sars fighting fund, and screening all travellers at border
crossings.
The Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, said he and his
his fellow leaders had been reassured by China's show of determination
in its fight against the virus.
The BBC's Jonathan Kent, at the meeting, says that the leaders
vowed to keep their borders open, mindful of the economic
impact of the outbreak.
Asia's economy has been badly hit by fears over Sars, with
economists warning of a drop in growth rates this year and
hotels and airlines facing a slump in customers.
In other developments:
Nine
more Beijing hospitals are assigned to victims of the virus,
amid reports of shortages of vital equipment such as face
masks and gloves
In Hong Kong, a team from the WHO begins investigating the
possible role of environmental factors, such as leaking
sewage pipes, in the spread of the disease there
The Japanese embassy in Beijing advises all 3,000 Japanese
students to leave the city and return home
South Korea and New Zealand report their first probable
Sars cases
Reports from Russia say that hundreds of Chinese and Vietnamese
vegetable growers have not been admitted to the central
Chelyabinsk region amid worries over Sars.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) says the spread of the disease
has peaked in all affected countries but China, which has
been worst-hit and has more than 3,300 cases.
