The Fuyang government's effort to play down a deadly intestinal viral outbreak has once again upset the country. The intestinal virus enterovirus 71, or EV71, infected some 1,500 children and claimed 20 lives by Tuesday morning. The outbreak was first reported in early March, but the government only released the news a month later. Here is what newspapers had to say about this issue.

Dongfang Daily has an comment pointing out that the local government wasn't the only body that played down the outbreak. It says the local hospital also did not adopt appropriate precautions while the disease was spreading wildly. In fact, a kindergarten school that reported a death was ordered 'not to say anything without proof'.

Dongfang Daily says the Fuyang government's dubious conduct goes back quite a few years. In 2006, over 150 corrupt officials were sacked. In 2007, the extravagant municipal office, also called "Fuyang White House" by the locals, was exposed in the media. However, no investigations were done into the matter.

One article from the Contemporary Express dredges up the inferior-quality milk powder incident four years ago which affected over 170 infants in Fuyang. Even then, the authorities also tried to play down its seriousness. This time, delaying the news of the outbreak has worsened the spread of the disease. Now, the public is threatened both by the virus and the corrupt government. Public rage has spread beyond Fuyang: Chinese people all over the country are shocked by the death of

Chinese Business View described the Fuyang viral outbreak as case where "the lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on". In addition, the same excuse of "avoiding unnecessary chaos" is used again. Clearly, the Fuyang government has not learned from the lessons of the SARS outbreak, Harbin or the Wuxi Water Crisis. Transparency is key to curing such problems. From May 1st, a new regulation on information release by governments will come into effect. However, if no penalty is levied or investigation done into the dealings of the Fuyang government, transparency may never increase.