CHINA: After months of hiding their SARS outbreak, China's leaders started a highly publicised battle to halt the spread of the deadly virus. In Hong Kong meanwhile, a record nine deaths in a day were reported from severe acute respiratory syndrome.
US and Canadian scientists said they had independently mapped the genome of the new virus blamed for causing SARS, raising hopes a test could be developed quickly so treatment can be given as soon as possible.
But with airlines cancelling flights, tourists staying at home and shops and restaurants empty in SARS hotspots like Hong Kong and Singapore, Asian governments are facing their greatest challenge since the 1997-98 regional economic crisis.
The Standard & Poor's Rating agency said the impact would cut 0.6 per cent to 1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product in Hong Kong. Singapore's GDP could be 0.4 to 2.0 per cent lower and China's could lose up to 0.5 per cent.
Carried around the world by travellers after first appearing in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, the virus has infected 3,300 people and killed 144 in more than 20 countries.
In Hong Kong, the government said SARS had killed nine more people and infected another 42. The latest figures bring the local death toll to 56 and the number of cases to 1,232.
In China, Premier Wen Jiabao called on "the whole nation" to "work closely together to win the fierce battle" against SARS, and ordered a campaign to scrub down planes, trains, buses, trucks, taxis and office blocks to kill the virus.
Fearful of a longer-term impact on Asia's fastest growing economy, Mr Wen and Communist Party boss Mr Hu Jintao have appeared in major hospitals and met doctors.
Posters have been plastered around city streets and subways calling on people to wash their hands, cut down on drinking and smoking and keep face masks handy.
But the disease is spreading around China.
The south-eastern province of Fujian reported its first cases. Infections in Beijing rose sharply.
More cases were logged in Guangdong, which opened its flagship Canton Trade Fair yesterday with foreign participation well down.
Poor northern Shanxi, one of the first provinces to report SARS in travellers from Guangdong, saw an alarming rise in reported cases to 82 since March.
The World Health Organisation says SARS will be hard to track in the hinterland, where the health system receives 20 per cent of government spending but serves 70 per cent of the population.
Standard & Poor's said the outbreak would lower economic growth rates for much of Asia in 2003 as the disease changes lifestyles and dents consumption, with the gravest damage inflicted on Hong Kong.
Singapore, with the world's fourth-highest number of cases backed temporary wage cuts and shorter work weeks for the tourist sector. - (Reuters)