Fight Against SARS

SARS is the abbreviation of infectious pandemic disease which in full refers to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It has been a new respiratory infectious disease caused by infection with SARS related coronavirus; fever, dry cough and chest tightness as its main symptoms, and respiratory failure occurs rapidly in severe cases. The main characteristics of this disease are its strong infectivity, spread among people and the rapid progress of the disease.

In the middle and late February of 2003, SARS epidemic was prevalent in some parts of Guangdong, spread to North China in the first ten days of March, and spread to 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government in the middle and late April, showing an rapid outbreak. In addition to China, more than 30 countries and regions around the world have also experienced outbreaks in succession.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, all departments of the state and government worked together, to reverse the situation. On June 24, 2003, the World Health Organization announced the lifting of the travel warning for Beijing and removed Beijing from the list of SARS epidemic areas; which meant that, China has won a phased victory in the fight against SARS.

In the fight against SARS, the spirit of "uniting all people as one like a citadel, defying hardships, struggle together, and dare to win" was formed.