The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting Thursday to discuss the further strengthening of control over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic.

The meeting, chaired by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao, pointed out that SARS control is having a significant impact on the health and lives of the people and on the overall situation of China's reform, development and stability.  

The participants urged the CPC and government organizations at all levels to be fully aware of the extreme importance of SARS control and to treat it as a priority in their work.

The committee said that, despite marked progress in SARS control work, the task ahead remains arduous and complicated given that SARS is a newly-discovered disease. It urged the continuous and relentless strengthening of SARS control work to consolidate the successes and resolve oustanding issues.

The meeting urged composure, quick action, reliance on science,efficiency, cooperation and the improvement of the control mechanism in the fight against the SARS epidemic.

It pointed out that the most urgent task is to take immediate action to control the spread of the disease. To do this, early discovery, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment are key to cutting off the epidemic's transmission route.  

The meeting urged the strengthening of the medical force and the search for more effective remedies.

"All departments must actively support the search for effective remedies through providing manpower, materials and financing," said the meeting.

The meeting also urged the establishment of a rapid response mechanism to deal with emergencies in public health and the strengthening of international cooperation and exchanges on SARS control.

The meeting stressed establishing a responsibility monitoring system to ensure that every item of work is done and urged chief leaders of the CPC and government organizations at all levels to personally oversee the SARS control work, adding that they will beheld accountable for the overall situation in their respective jurisdictions.

The meeting urged the mobilization of large numbers of people to carry out monitoring work and to establish a sound monitoring network.

It called for close attention to SARS prevention and control ingovernment institutions, schools, universities, enterprises and other large organizations.

It urged the dissemination of scientific knowledge and SARS preventive measures to the masses so that they could better guard against the disease.

According to the meeting, needy SARS victims will receive financial assistance so that they receive effective treatment in time.

The meeting explicitly warned against the covering up of SARS cases and demanded the accurate, timely and honest reporting of the SARS situation.