Asian leaders tackle Sars

China has more than 3,300 cases

South-East Asian leaders are meeting to co-ordinate efforts to fight the spread of Sars, a day after health officials said the virus had peaked everywhere but China.

The Bangkok meeting is expected to approve compulsory screening for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome at national borders.

It comes after the World Health Organisation said the spread of the disease had peaked in all affected countries but China - the world's worst-hit country with more than 3,300 cases.

Thousands remain under quarantine in Beijing, and on Tuesday China reported nine new Sars deaths - bringing its total to 147 - and 202 new cases.

Hong Kong reported 12 more deaths and 15 new cases of the disease, and South Korea announced its first "probable" case - a man in his 40s who recently travelled to China.

The BBC's Jonathan Kent, in Bangkok, says the latest meeting is about restoring public confidence and showing there is the political will to stop Sars spreading.

KNOWN DEATH TOLL

Hong Kong: 150

Mainland China: 148

Singapore: 23

Canada: 21

Vietnam: 5

Thailand: 2

Malaysia: 2

Philippines: 2

Taiwan: 1

Indonesia: 1 (unconfirmed)

Source: WHO/ local health authorities

China town riots over Sars

Map: Global overview

Timeline

It comes as China reportedly sacked 16 officials as part of its crackdown on the spread of Sars.

Meanwhile, Canada says it will present compelling evidence that it is winning the fight against Sars when it meets the WHO in Geneva later.

Twenty-one people have died from Sars in Toronto, but the Canadians say there is now no need for a warning urging travellers to avoid the city.

Politicians have scrambled to limit the economic damage. In a rare and symbolic move, Prime Minister Jean Chretien's Cabinet will meet in Toronto on Tuesday instead of in Ottawa.

'China is key'

Asia's economy has been badly hit by fears over Sars, with economists warning of a drop in growth rates this year and hotels and airlines facing a slump in customers.

POSSIBLE SARS PLANS:

Strict airport health checks

Travel bans for suspect cases

Health forms for visitors from affected areas

The groundwork for Tuesday's Asean meeting was done at a weekend council of regional health ministers in Malaysia that called for strict screening at all airports and other exit points to prevent suspected Sars cases from travelling.

Leaders from China, Japan and countries from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) will be attending the talks.

It will be the first time on the international stage for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who was appointed last month.

Vietnam received a boost on Monday when the WHO said it was the first country to have brought the virus under control - having declared no new cases since 8 April.

But China is still causing concern, and the WHO is looking to see whether Sars will become an epidemic.

Officials 'played games'

The WHO's head of communicable diseases Dr David Heymann on Monday said China was "the key" to finding out whether Sars could be eradicated.

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The economic fallout from Sars paranoia is going to be far more devastating than the disease itself

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"If China cannot contain it, then it cannot be removed," he told reporters in Bangkok.

Chinese media said the sacked officials included the director of a regional disease control centre in Hunan province, and two people who were found to be playing computer games instead of manning a Sars hotline.

Another group of officials in Inner Mongolia - one of China's worst-affected areas - were sacked for abandoning their work to go to Beijing so they could be checked for Sars at a leading hospital.

Dr Heymann also warned that exaggerated fears of the virus were unnecessarily damaging tourism and trade.

But the WHO is continuing to advise against travel to Beijing, Hong Kong, and China's Shanxi and Guangdong provinces, as well as Toronto.