December 15, 2002

Huang Kechu and Guo Ducheng, two residents of Heyuan in Guangdong Province were hospitalized in Heyuan People's Hospital. Both had fevers and coughs.

Their conditions deteriorated and they were transferred respectively to the Shenzhen Futian Hospital and the Guangzhou Army's General Hospital, where five medical staff members were also infected.

A rumour started to spread that Heyuan had been hit by an unknown virus which has left one dead and three medical staff infected.

January 2, 2003

People in panic joined long queues at pharmacies. Panic buying ensured shelves were swiftly cleared of anti-virus medicines.

Huang Kechu and Guo Ducheng, meanwhile, recovered and were released from hospital.

Mid-January

Patients with pneumonia with an "unknown cause" appeared in Zhongshan, some 270 kilometres from Heyuan.

Up to eight medical staff were infected. It is claimed they failed to take adequate precautions and didn't know enough about the disease.

January 21

A medical experts' team drew the conclusion from investigations in Zhongshan that they were dealing with a non-typical pneumonia, a disease that could be treated effectively.

Citizens in Zhongshan continued to panic buy, this time snapping up Banlangen, vinegar and anti-virus medicines.

Spring Festival holiday (February 1 to 7)

Rumours spread to Guangzhou and became even more exaggerated. Panic buying of medicines and home remedies spread within the Pearl River Delta and to nearby provinces.

February 11

The Guangzhou municipal government held a press conference, announcing 305 cases and 5 deaths. Officials denounced rumours and claimed the pneumonia was not as fearful as suggested.

February 13

No new cases were reported and the disease was declared completely under control.

February 14

All the patients in Heyuan and Zhongshan were cured. Eighty per cent of all the hospitalized patients with the pneumonia in Guangzhou Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital and the Guangzhou Military Region Hospital were released.

Experts of the China Disease Prevention and Control Centre rule out lung plague spot, bird flu and anthrax.

February 18

Experts at the China Disease Prevention and Conotrol Centre announced that the pathogen of the disease has been identified as chlamydia in autopsies of two patients who died of the disease.

Editor: Wings