China 'laundering money' over SARS fears

Fearful of spreading the deadly Sars virus, Chinese banks plan to do something the government usually frowns upon: launder money.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the nation’s biggest commercial bank, is already holding all notes for 24 hours – long enough for Sars germs to die before the currency is circulated again.

Cash is also being quarantined for a day at the City Commercial Bank of China, which was ordered to clean the money by the Central Bank, a spokesman said.

Both banks said they are also sterilising bank notes by exposing them to ultraviolet light for an hour.

They said they plan to clean the money with disinfectant but have not received the equipment yet.

Medical investigators have yet to trace any case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) to contaminated money.

But disease experts say people can become infected through contact with objects or surfaces used by people with Sars.

People are encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

So far, more than 3,300 people have caught Sars in China and nearly 150 have died.