The provincial government of Guangdong Monday ordered immediate shutdown of the local wild animal markets and kill all civet cats before Jan. 10, in an urgent measure to contain a possible outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The latest research results show the viral genetic sequence from the recent SARS patient in the southern province is very similar to that of the weasel-like mammals.

At an emergency meeting on countermeasures after the suspected case was confirmed as a diagnosed case, Party head Zhang Dejiang urged governments of all levels in the province to mobilize the public to quarantine any possible SARS infectious agent and cut off any infectious means to prevent a possible comeback of SARS.

Zhang was satisfied at the "effective" work on SARS prevention in Guangdong, and said the governments should never relax vigilance but should strengthen medical monitoring for people who have close contact with wildlife.

To prevent wildlife from entering Guangdong, eight inspection stations have been set up along highways in eight major cities.

Wild game cuisine, both traditional and popular in southern China, particularly in Guangdong, was widely blamed for being a source of SARS virus, which claimed 349 lives in China in 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2004)