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I first came to China about two weeks before the world was aware of SARS. I say the world because although there were indications of an epidemic, the Chinese government did little to investigate it. It was not until the epidemic spread and more and more people became infected, that both the world press and the Chinese government began to act. The disease first appeared in the provinces north of Hong Kong in the southern part of China. It spread in patches: some provinces were severly affected, others hardly at all. In northeast China where I live, this city of Shenyang has had no cases while three hours by train north of here in Chang Chun, there have been serious outbreaks reported.

In fact, I was teaching in Chang Chun at this time. Throughout China public places like internet cafes, some schools and universities and concert venues were closed. The masks that some Chinese wear sometimes proliferated so that most of the population wasw hidden behind these masks which cover the mouth and nose. Some women even covered their heads in see-through scarves which produced a very bizarre sight.

Many officials have lost their jobs, partly because China wants to show the world that it is serious about fighting SARS, and because these men and women did not act quickly enough. Of course, it was not until the spotlight of the press was cast on China and SARS, that action was taken. This meant not only closing businesses and instituions but notices put up everywhere about SARS, discussions in schools, and checking people's temperature every time they entered a restaurant or other gathering places. On any given day, you might have your temperature taken four or five times. Daily health bulletins full of statistics of known cases, deaths, etc. by province and almost daily press conferences take place attended by the world press.

SARS appears to be confined to the cities - Beijing is reported to be almost a ghost town - and the government has decreed that any poor people can receive free health care. (The Chinese must pay for most of their health care and education.) I have heard that when you leave a city by train, for example, you must fill out a health card - where you have been, where you are going, length of stay, etc. Much of the daily news broadcasts and newspapers are taken up with stories and information about SARS. Now that SARS has become a world-wide disease, this is also the same in the West. I'm not sure I would call it an epidemic in terms of numbers. There are some 1.2 billion Chinese and the numbers affected are miniscule by comparison. The problem is that in people's minds until an antidote is found, there will be a scare factor, one which is quite prevalent in China. As a Westerner, I am continually asked if I "fear" SARS.

In spite of the Chinese government going to great lengths to freely give information, the bulk of the population still retains a great fear of the disease, wondering when their lives can get back to normal.

Zachary Cohn