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At the beginning of 2003, a pandemic which we have never heard before - SARS (萨斯, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) broke out in China and many places in the world.

The government initially tried to conceal the outbreak. After the concealment failed, two senior officials -- health minister and Beijing's mayor - were dismissed as two scapegoats.

All communities immediately were closed, all people entering the communities must accept body temperature measurement, all hyperthermic residents were put under isolated observation.

In my home, my wife was very nervous. She measured her body temperature three times a day, and drank banlangen (板蓝根, a preventive medicine). I and my kids were relaxed without panic.