"The administration of China's SARS pervention work has moved back to a normal state and the Ministry of Health has temporarily suspended its daily reporting of SARS epidemic surveillance to the public," the ministry announced on its website.

From April, SARS surveillance reporting will be made as mandated by law through the health ministry's monthly reporting system, it said.

The decision was made as only four cases of SARS have been confirmed so far this year, with all patients successfully recovering and leaving hospital, it said. China had been making daily reports since September 19.

"Ending the daily reports to the public on the situation of epidemic surveillance does not mean that SARS prevention work will be relaxed the least bit," it added.

The Ministry of Health urged stepping up epidemic surveillance at all levels, especially in infectious diseases currently spreading and in respiratory diseases of unknown origin.

"As soon as a case of SARS is discovered, it must be reported in accordance to regulations and the Ministry of Health will announce the information on the epidemic to the public in a timely manner," it said on its website.

SARS emerged in southern China towards the end of 2002, and rapidly spread to most corners of the country, killing 349 people. Nearly 800 people died worldwide as the disease jumped to more than 30 countries.

In the early days of the epidemic, China appeared eager to cover up the spread of the disease and for months insisted that it had been controlled, when it was actually spreading throughout the country at an alarming rate.

TERRA.WIRE