China in a Panic Over Mystery Bug

The Chinese authorities are struggling to quell alarm in southern China over a health scare which has led to panic-buying of patent medicines and disinfectants.

A so-far unidentified virus has killed five people and caused another 300 cases in Guangdong province since it broke out in mid November.

With symptoms similar to pneumonia, it has been described in a World Health Organisation notice as an "acute respiratory syndrome".

Two people in Nanhai city were reported yesterday to have died while trying to safeguard their home against the virus.

The couple in their 40s had boiled up vinegar - a popular disinfectant - on a coal stove, only to be poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes.

In Shanghai - 900 miles north of Guangdong - supermarkets reported a run on vinegar and anti-viral medicines.

In Guangzhou there were reports of bottles of vinegar selling for 12 yuan (90p) instead of one.

This week senior officials appeared on radio and television to call for calm.

Critics say that the government kept silent about the outbreak for too long, while alarming stories spread.