Mr Danby asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 15 May 2003:

(1) When did he or his Department first become aware of the SARS outbreak in the People's Republic of China (China).

(2) When were the first media reports of the SARS outbreak: (a) anywhere in the world, (b) in China, and (c) in the Chinese press.

(3) When did the Australian Embassy in Beijing or other posts in China report the outbreak of SARS in China to his Department.

(4) Could the Minister detail all advice he has received from the Embassy in Beijing.

(5) Given the underreporting of the HIV/AIDS outbreak decades ago in China, is the Department or the Australian Embassy in China concerned about the reporting of epidemics by the Chinese authorities.

(6) Between the reporting of the first case in early November and the admission of the World Health Organisation delegation to China, (a) what were the nature of Australian travel advisories to China, (b) when did they change and (c) what was the first advice, and the nature of any updated advice, in that period.

(7) Apart from issuing travel advisories, what efforts did Australia take to warn travellers to China and Hong Kong about the SARS outbreak.

Mr Downer (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) The Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou first reported the outbreak of an unidentified infection then known as atypical pneumonia on 12 February.

(2) It appears the first media reports of atypical pneumonia occurred on 3 and 17 January, when two Guangzhou newspapers reported cases of an unusual disease in two provincial cities. The Guangdong health authorities held a press conference on 11 February at which they announced the extent of an epidemic in Guangdong. There was widespread reporting of this conference in the media (both in Guangzhou and Hong Kong) on 12 February. The first global alerts issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) about cases of atypical pneumonia occurred on 12 March. On 15 March the WHO issued an emergency travel advisory which for the first time referred to the outbreak of SARS and provided guidance to travellers, but contained no recommendation restricting travel.

(3) As noted in (1) the first report was from the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou on 12 February, but at that time the disease was described as atypical pneumonia. The term 'SARS' had not yet been coined. The Australian Embassy in Beijing first reported on SARS on 27 March 2003, following confirmation of the first cases in Beijing.

(4) Following its initial report on 27 March, the Embassy in Beijing has provided extensive advice on a broad range of SARS-related issues on a regular basis. These reports include national as well as Beijing statistics on probable cases and deaths and reports on meetings with Chinese officials. Developments relating to the spread of the disease, its economic impact and staff health and welfare issues have also been covered on a regular basis.

(5) The Department is aware that the WHO expressed concern about China's reporting of SARS cases. The Chinese authorities have been cooperating with the WHO to work through these issues. China's Ministry of Health has acknowledged weaknesses in the public health system affected its preparedness to deal with the SARS crisis. The Chinese Government has advised it is putting in place measures to deal with future public health emergencies, and has allocated 2.9 million yuan to set up disease control and prevention centres throughout China over the coming two years.

(6) A WHO team arrived in Beijing on 23 March at the invitation of the Chinese Government. On 26 March China made its first official report to the WHO, highlights of which were made public that day, indicating that they had SARS cases (792 probable cases and 31 deaths). This report included previously unknown and unreported SARS cases dating back to 16 November 2002. Prior to this China had reported no cases of SARS to the WHO. On 26 March, on the basis of advice from the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) travel advice for China was updated to advise “Travellers should be aware that the World Health Organisation has issued an alert regarding a contagious form of respiratory illness known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)”. This was updated on 28 March with specific reference to SARS cases in Guangdong Province. On 1 April, revised travel advice was issued strongly recommending that Australians consider deferring non-essential travel to China, in particular Guangdong Province, and to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). This was subsequently updated to include additional provinces and regions. The WHO first issued a travel advisory restricting non-essential travel to Guangdong Province and Hong Kong SAR on 2 April and later extended this to include Beijing and Shanxi Province on 23 April.

(7) Beyond travel advisories covering mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, which were regularly updated as developments warranted, DFAT has in close consultation with the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) issued a SARS Travel Bulletin which contains practical precautionary advice on measures to minimise the risks of contracting SARS. DoHA and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) have instituted a comprehensive program to inform the Australian public including: a SARS information hotline; SARS media releases from the Commonwealth Medical Officer; distribution of leaflets to departing and arriving passengers; and SARS Health Information Cards for incoming passengers. Other measures undertaken by DFAT include: communication with the Australian expatriate communities through liaison with Australian Chambers of Commerce and briefings of Australian community members in SARS-affected areas; advice to enquirers; and e-mailed advice from our posts to registered Australians on topics such as the spread of the disease through individual provinces, useful website links, advice from local medical clinics, information hotlines, quarantine and travel restrictions.