SANTA ROSA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 06/21/12 -- In May, China reported more than 982,932 cases of infectious diseases resulting in 1,575 deaths, but no cases of SARS thanks in part to new government policies and a breakthrough in medical waste treatment from Rotoblock Corp. (OTCBB: RTBC).
An outbreak of SARS occurred between 2002 and 2003 in China that nearly became a pandemic, with 8,422 cases and 916 deaths worldwide (10.9% fatality) according to the World Health Organization. Within weeks, SARS spread from Hong Kong to infect individuals in 37 countries by early 2003.
302 Military Hospital is considered the leading center for treatment and research of infectious diseases. In 2002, before the SARS outbreak in China, Rotoblock's subsidiary, Puhua Kangjian Environmental Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., began testing steam-based medical waste treatment in China with the hospital. Historically, infectious medical waste was incinerated by hospitals or thrown out as garbage and mixed with residential waste, allowing the release of dioxins, chemicals and diseases. Rotoblock acquired controlling ownership in Puhua Kangjian last year as part of Rotoblock's acquisition of daifuWaste Management Holding Limited.
"Our subsidiary installed the first steam-based, non-incinerator medical waste treatment system in China," said Rotoblock CEO Andrew Schneider.
When the SARS epidemic broke out, the Puhua Kangjian system went into action at 302 Military Hospital, using extreme heat, pressure and recycled steam in a process that breaks down and sterilizes waste before it enters a landfill. The hospital credited this in overcoming the SARS epidemic and in 2003 the "Technical Guidance on Defending SARS for Hospitals" was published under the National 863 Project. It was the sole system recommended by the guidebook to treat medical waste and the book was distributed to all infectious diseases specialist hospitals in China.
Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control (for example, general economic conditions). Our actual results could differ significantly from the results described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include changes in governmental regulation of medical waste collection and treatment and increases in transportation and other operating costs, as well as the other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result, past financial performance should not be considered a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate future results or trends. We make no commitment to disclose any subsequent revisions to forward-looking statements.
CONTACT:
Andrew P. Schneider
Chief Executive Officer
561-906-1181