The Macao Health Service said Thursday that Macao's SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) notification mechanism with Beijing has remained expedite and it has received timely and veracious notification on suspected SARS cases from Beijing.

The health bureau said that it was notified by the Ministry of Health of the recent suspected cases of atypical pneumonia or SARS.

The disease notification mechanism set up after the fight against SARS by the health departments in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao was extended to 27 types of communicable diseases in Octoberlast year.

The Macao Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases said that it has closely followed the investigation on suspected SARS cases found in the mainland since the start of this year.

Macao has sustained strict health monitoring at all of its customs checkpoints since the outbreak of SARS. Passengers bound to Macao are still required to fill in health declaration forms, which specify important messages including names, addresses and telephone numbers, so that they could be reached in case of suspected infection.

Source: Xinhua