ABSTRACT
As soon as SARS hit Beijing, the Health Bureau of Beijing set Beijing Chest Hospital as a designated SARS hospital and initiated an emergency command system there under the direct guidance of the Bureau. Besides, 1 800 medical workers from 8 other hospitals were transferred on a temporary basis to the Chest Hospital to strengthen its workforce. In addition, experts teams for treatment, isolation and prevention, nursing, and a cooperation team for treatment with traditional Chinese medicine were formulated. Altogether 453 confirmed or suspect SARS cases were admitted. By June 24, 22 cases were referred to other hospitals, 20 suspect cases were excluded, and 26 cases died while all the rest were cured and discharged. The fatality rate was 5.79% . As practice shows, the initiation of the emergency command system pkyed a key role in the fight against SARS. It is suggested that in future the country establish and perfect an emergency public health system and that each third-tier hospital and above set up an infectious diseases department or solitary ward area.