Military

DATE=07/04/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-301864

TITLE=WHO CHINA (S&L)

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The World Health Organization has criticized China for being slow in sharing information on the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome with the rest of the world. But as Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the head of the W-H-O, who is visiting India, says cooperation with China has improved.

TEXT: The head of the World Health Organization, Gro Harlem Brundtland, says China should have accepted international help earlier in dealing with the SARS virus that probably first emerged in the country's southern Guangdong province.

/// BRUNDTLAND ACT ///

Would it have been better if W-H-O had been given an opportunity with its experts to enter into Guangdong and be able to help the authorities there?. The answer is yes. It would have been helpful, and it should have happened earlier, in my opinion.

/// END ACT ///

China's Guangdong province and neighboring Hong Kong account for the majority of SARS cases worldwide.

The serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia was first identified in China late last year. But Beijing first allowed the W-H-O team to visit last week.

/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

The disease has spread to more than a dozen countries and sparked panic, especially in Asia where most of the cases have occurred.

The W-H-O team now in Guangdong is searching for clues about how SARS spreads. The team is meeting scientists, visiting hospitals, and reviewing medical records. The disease is spreading in ways health authorities do not fully understand.

Ms. Brundtland says she is satisfied that there is now "good collaboration" between W-H-O and China, but says she cannot comment on whether China has taken sufficient steps to deal with the crisis.

/// 2nd BRUNDTLAND ACT ///

. We will be working with the experts, and the environment, and the political leadership in Guangdong and in. Beijing, both to give advice and to do whatever is possible to help them in identifying the reasons, the cause of the outbreak. and therefore understand how we can deal with it.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Brundtland says apparently India is lucky to have escaped the epidemic. The W-H-O chief was in New Delhi for ceremonies to mark World Health Day, which has been dedicated this year to healthy environments to protect children. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/AJ/MH/RAE