Guangdong Province in south China lowered its severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) alert level Friday following the discharge from hospital on January 29 of this year's fourth SARS patient in the province.

The decision to end the ordinary-level emergency response was made in accordance with suggestions put forward by a SARS-assessment panel of specialists after study of the SARS situation in the province.

Guangdong Province, one of the worst-hit areas by SARS in China early last year, published a three-level Emergency Countermeasure for Prevention and Control of Infectious SARS on Nov. 6, 2003.

In the ordinary-level alert, medical organizations at all levels within the province should be on alert and a 24-hour-duty system is practiced, plus a daily SARS reporting system.

On Jan. 5, the first SARS case of this year was clinically diagnosed in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province. Guangdong Provincial Headquarters for Prevention and Control of the SARS thus decided to launch the ordinary-level emergency response system at the request of the SARS-assessment panel.

SARS has been controlled in Guangdong and no new SARS cases have been diagnosed or confirmed in the province since Jan. 29.
 
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2004)