While Sars cases in most affected areas have tapered off over the past week, the slack has since been taken up in China where rapid spread of the disease has threatened civil stability in the densely-populated country.

According to latest press reports, fears over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) have prompted many villagers in China to take matters in their own hand, a sign most indicative of low confidence in Beijing's administrative capability in controlling the outbreak.