WORLD IN BRIEF : CHINA : Viruses Spread in Computer Network

Electronic viruses are spreading through China’s computer network and could cause severe losses to data bases, the official China Daily reported. The Public Security Ministry has discovered six viruses, including one called “Jerusalem” that appeared on Friday, the report said. It said thousands of computers have been infected by the viruses and mentioned a university and a chemical factory that had to suspend operations because of computer problems. The viruses are programs that can reproduce themselves indefinitely and slow or destroy other programs.