A world Health Organization representative suggested yesterday that China strengthen surveillance and carry on basic control work such as early isolation to prevent another outbreak of SARS.Dr Henk Bekedam, the resident WHO representative in China, said China made a strong commitment to reinforce its surveillance system and has been working hard with "quite good" results achieved.

　　In the first half of this year, SARS epidemic struck China and some other nations.

　　The mysterious disease affected a total of 8,437 people worldwide, killing 348 on the Chinese mainland and 813 worldwide by July 11, according to the WHO.

　　China's mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and Singapore were the main affected areas.

　　"We don't know whether SARS will return this winter," Dr Bekedam said, noting that good surveillance, early isolation of SARS patients and early contact tracing could stem the contagious disease from another major breakout.

　　Bekedam suggested that China intensify monitoring in the south,swheresthe first SARS case had been reported, on the laboratories which contained the SARS virus and on thoseshavingsclose contact with wildlife.

　　The WHO official cited wild animals and laboratories without adequate safeguard measures as two triggers for the possible recurrence of SARS.

　　The most recent SARS case was reported in September by Singapore, two months after the United Nation's agency announced that the virus was contained worldwide.