SARS figures under scrutiny
It is feared that bookings to the Far East could slump further after the World Health Organisation (WHO) accused China of under-reporting the extent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
WHO officials say Beijing could have up to 200 cases, rather than the 37 that has been officially reported.
It appears that the Chinese authorities have not been including information on patients in military hospitals in their official figures on the so-called superbug.
An ABTA spokesman told TravelMole: “We have been inundated with calls from members of the public who are concerned about travelling to the far east, and to China in particular. It is essential that the World Health Organisation secure full co-operation from the Chinese authorities to ensure the risk is fully investigated and the appropriate measures taken.”
In the UK, the Guild of Business Travel Agents recently decided to move its annual conference from Shanghai because of fears over the spread of the disease in China.
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