WINDY Huang, a local lawyer working in an office building on Nanjing Xilu, started wearing a mask one week ago despite her colleagues laughing at her or passers-by looking at her like a monster.

　　"I have got so much terrible information about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) from the internet and short messages, and at least wearing a mask makes me feel much safer," she said.

　　When Eric Xiang returned from Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province last weekend, he dared not visit friends. "I won't cause phobia as a dangerous factor."

　　Despite some scare among people and the cancellation of visitors, Shanghai appears to be relatively peaceful compared with several cities in the world.

　　SARS declared contained

　　The local government has announced it has effectively contained the spread of SARS. And the government is using every means to reduce the impact SARS phobia isshavingson the city's economy - especially on the tourism industry.

　　"Shanghai is a safe city for residents and travellers and is well able to control SARS," said Peng Jing, deputy director of the city's Health Bureau.

　　The occurrence rate of other serious infectious illnesses, such as influenza, was lower than in previous years, according to Peng.

　　Zhang Shengnian, director of the city's Disease Control and Inspection Centre said: "The city has set up a quick-response system covering all areas of the city to diagnose any suspect SARS cases. A total of 110 local medical organizations are set up as surveillance spots. Any suspect case will be reported and will receive a diagnosis within a couple of hours."

　　Only one patient in the city had been found to be suffering from the disease so far.

　　The sole victim, a 40-year-old woman, had visited Guangdong and Hong Kong on March 22. Right after returning to Shanghai, she developed SARS and was promptly sent to the hospital.

　　Health officials said the patient was in a stable condition after immediate and effective treatment at the hospital. Her diarrhea has stopped, her high fever has dropped and her temperature was now near normal but she still needed more time in hospital.

　　No person who had had close contact with her has been infected.

　　Another eight patients suspected ofshavingsSARS were found, after examination and observation, to be free of the disease. One had influenza.

　　In each hospital, the first doctor to accept any SARS patient is held fully responsible for any diagnosis of the disease.

　　Precautions

　　The Health Bureau prepared itself to cope with disease as soon as news was received about the initial outbreak in Guangdong Province. Prevention work was given top priority, Zhang said.

　　Some 14 medical experts, including epidemiologists, respiratory disease specialists and pediatricians were teamed together to give advice on the treatment and prevention of the spread of SARS.

　　The city also trained medical staff, the most at-risk group, to protect themselves with better masks. In some hospitals, doctors' working times were also shortened by about two hours to allow them more rest to help prevent their catching the disease.

　　Measures were also taken at schools. Health Bureau officials said that a school would be suspended once any suspect SARS case was found but did not elaborate.

　　Posters and pamphlets about how to prevent SARS have been delivered to every community centre to educate local residents.

　　However, the education programme is a difficult task because of the large floating population and frequent international comings and goings.

　　"From the medical angle, it's not strange to find one SARS case importedsintossuch an open city but the key issue for us is to prevent its spread and transmission," Zhang said.

　　Jiao Yang, a spokeswoman for the municipal government, said that the public would be kept informed of the latest developments in the fight against SARS through the media and the official website: www.smhb.gov.cn.

　　People who develop a cough or a high fever should consult doctors in local big hospitals.

　　Residents are advised to avoid going to placesswhereslarge numbers of people congregate.

　　Besides the Lung Hospital, three other hospitals have been specially designated to treat SARS patients: Shanghai Infectious Diseases Hospital for expatriates, Shanghai Children's Medical Centre and Shanghai Pediatric Hospital under Fudan University for all child patients.