Unfazed by the latest outbreak of SARS, tens of millions of Chinese streamed past temperature monitors onto planes and trains yesterday as the weeklong May Day holiday began and authorities girded against travelers spreading the virus.
Crowds of soldiers, backpacking students and migrant workers carrying shoulder poles converged on Shanghai's main railway station under a steady drizzle, either headed home to see family or off to resorts. No one seemed worried about infectious diseases.
"SARS isn't even on our minds. Everything seems to be under control, and there isn't anything to worry about," said Li Chunming, a chef headed home to the nearby city of Wuxi.
The scene couldn't have been more different from last year, when a major outbreak of SARS killed 349 people in China -- and 774 worldwide -- and virtually shut down holiday travel on China.
Four confirmed and five suspected cases have been detected so far in this year's outbreak, all apparently linked to a Beijing laboratory where the virus is thought to have been accidently released. About 1,000 people, including 700 in Beijing, were in isolation to see if they developed SARS symptoms after possible contact with infected people.
May Day is one of China's big-three holiday weeks, and more than 90 million Chinese are expected to travel during the break, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Tourism-related industries were expected to take in about 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion), it said, quoting Zhang Xiqin, deputy director of China's National Tourism Administration.
Railways and airports are under orders to check temperatures of all travelers arriving from Anhui province and Beijing, where cases of the disease have been detected, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Anhui, in southeastern China, is the site of Huangshan, a popular holiday mountain attraction.
In Beijing, the central railway station reported a sharp increase in traffic and the national Health Ministry ordered local governments to heighten their vigilance during the holiday travel period. Traffic in the capital, normally preposterously clogged, was moving at a brisk pace on most major arteries.
Anti-SARS measures at Shang-hai station appeared minimal, with temperature scanners installed at exits but not entrances and almost no one wearing virus-blocking face masks.
Travel agencies said SARS has had an impact, albeit slight.
About 300 travelers canceled trips to Beijing after SARS struck, but 1,000 are still going, said Ma Qun, an agent with the Shanghai branch of Spring & Fall International Travel Agency. Those who canceled mostly opted to join other tours offered by the company, she said.
"Considering the tight quarantine measures taken, there's no reason to think that the outside environment is contaminated," Ma said.
Shi Tiehua, a Shanghai Tourism Bureau official, said her office wasn't issuing any special warnings or advisories to travelers.
"Neither the World Health Organization nor the State Tourism Bureau believed it is worthwhile to restrict travel at the moment," Shi said.
Shanghai-based China Eastern airlines was keeping its normal flight schedule to Beijing, but was checking passengers for fevers and asking them to fill in health declaration forms.
"Viewing from the current situation, I believe travel is still very safe," an airline official said.
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