(Clearwisdom.net) Guangdong Province was the source of the SARS virus, which has since spread around the world. The doctors working on the front lines revealed that the SARS epidemic exploded at the beginning of February 2003 when many medical care personnel contracted the illness.The hospital staff and the rest of society began to panic. However, in mid-February, when the epidemic reached its peak, the government authorities publicly lied and claimed that the epidemic was under control. One Guangdong physician felt sorry about the eventual global spread of the disease.
Dr. Wu Wei, an Internist working at the Second Hospital affiliated with Zhongshan University where massive SARS cases were first reported by the media, was interviewed by Hong Kong's Cable TV on June 20, 2003. She recalled how SARS spread in Guangzhou Province: "When SARS first exploded in our area at the beginning of February, respiratory physicians were in high demand. Some doctors who had been on leave, voluntarily returned to work in the hospital only to catch the disease themselves. In her hospital alone, 96 medical personnel and their family members became infected.
The Hospital Staff and Society Live In Fear
Dr. Wu tearfully said that these doctors all understood the severity of SARS and did not have to come back to work. "They were admitted to the wards almost as soon as they returned to work, and they became sick within a week after starting work." Dr. Wu, with 20 years of experience as a physician, described how society was living in panic and fear. When new nurses were assigned to help, they developed high fevers the next day. The situation was extremely terrifying. The hospital opened wards on five floors within two weeks, which quickly became full of SARS patients. "Not only the hospital staff was in a panic, but the entire society was panicked," stated Dr. Wu, however, she did not dare to reveal the situation to the media back then, "I could not inform a reporter. This is Mainland China... The stipulation is made this way," she said.
The Officials Falsely Report that the Epidemic is Under Control
The Guangdong Provincial government held a press conference on February 11, at which they claimed that the epidemic was under control. However, several doctors that we interviewed all pointed out that the SARS epidemic was at its peak at that time and massive numbers of medical personnel were infected. Dr. Zeng Xiangyuan from the First Hospital affliated with Zhongshan University said that from the end of February to early March was the peak of the local epidemic. The disease was brought under control only towards the end of March. However, Guangdong Province Health Department denies that its officials concealed the true situation and insists that the epidemic was under control in February.
Beijing and Hong Kong Sadly Follow the Footsteps
Dr. Wu felt very sorry for the areas in which the SARS epidemic was centered, including Beijing and Hong Kong. The extent of the epidemic was covered-up and so SARS rapidly spread from the hospital staff to the rest of society. She said, "In Beijing and Hong Kong the epidemic occurred again and many innocent lives were shattered. Why did the tragedy repeat itself? I think it is truly a shame."
