"China readjusts its contingency plan for flood prevention every year, in accordance with the actual circumstances. This year we have taken into full account the impact of SARS on flood prevention work," said Zhang Zhitong, deputy executive director of the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

In Beijing, one of the worst hit regions in the SARS outbreak, contingency plans have been worked out for flood prevention in and around Xiaotangshan of the suburban Shunyi County, where the largest designated hospital for SARS patients is located.

"Precautionary measures were also taken in other major local hospitals to ensure the disease won't spread this flood season," Zhang said.

He said with existing flood prevention facilities, Beijing was actually in quite a safe position this summer.

"The Yongding River is of critical importance to Beijing's flood prevention work," said Zhang. "Now we have made detailed plans for handling all kinds of flooding on this river, and the river's embankments are fortified to withstand the worst possible floods."

Nevertheless, Zhang warned against the possibility of "internal water logging" in Xiaotangshan Hospital and other SARS hospitals in the rainy season.

"Heavy and persistent rainfall in certain areas could lead to problems in the hospitals' drainage systems, and affect their SARS fighting efforts," he said. "This must be prevented and properly dealt with."

Weather forecasts show that north China will see heavy rainfall from June to August.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2003)