When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Flu likely to infect tens of millions during peak season
The Ministry of Health issued a stark warning on swine flu yesterday, saying fatalities were unavoidable and tens of millions would be affected during the peak flu season.
Flu likely to infect tens of millions during peak season
Yu Aitong and Agence France-Presse 12 September 2009
The Ministry of Health issued a stark warning on swine flu yesterday, saying fatalities were unavoidable and tens of millions would be affected during the peak flu season.
“According to expert estimates, during the autumn several tens of millions could be infected by A(H1N1) in China,” said Liang Wannian, deputy director of the ministry’s health emergency office. “Half of them could experience clinical symptoms [of swine flu], several million will seek medical help, and serious cases and fatalities will be unavoidable.”
He warned the virus was spreading from cities to the countryside, which was more prone to massive outbreaks because of poor hygiene habits and medical facilities. He also said there had been a shift from sporadic infections to cluster cases.
There has been a noticeable increase in the spread of the virus in recent weeks. Of the nearly 7,000 cases reported since June, over half were detected since August 24.
“Of these [recent] cases, nearly 95 per cent were contracted domestically, whereas the vast majority of cases reported from June to August originated abroad,” Liang said.
Liang said new trends in the spread of the virus had been identified - with cases moving from cities to rural areas, and from coastal provinces inland.
According to Liang, tests showed that most people were at risk of contracting the virus. He said serious cases had been found in Guangdong, Shanghai and Zhejiang.
“The daily number of new infections is rising, and there are increasing numbers of patients in a serious condition,” he said.
Schools are on the frontline of the fight against the spread. A Ministry of Education spokesman said every school in the country must test the temperatures of all pupils before class, and large indoor gatherings were forbidden.
Local health authorities should provide traditional Chinese medicine to schools in areas with many infections.
On Thursday, the State Council issued new regulations on handling outbreaks, ordering the ministries of health and education and the food and drug administration to co-ordinate prevention and control.
The regulations promised free vaccinations and flexible working hours for government departments, business and social service facilities.
The first batch of swine flu vaccines have been sent to eight provinces, including Guangdong.
On Wednesday, Beijing began vaccinating about 1.8 million residents aged 60 years and over, as well as pupils at primary and middle schools.
Henan -based Hualan company, one of two firms licensed to mass produce the vaccine, said it would produce 1.3 million doses before October 1.
Yan Jiangying, a spokeswoman of the State Food and Drug Administration, said the watchdog would carefully observe the effect of the new vaccines.
1 comment:
Flu likely to infect tens of millions during peak season
Yu Aitong and Agence France-Presse
12 September 2009
The Ministry of Health issued a stark warning on swine flu yesterday, saying fatalities were unavoidable and tens of millions would be affected during the peak flu season.
“According to expert estimates, during the autumn several tens of millions could be infected by A(H1N1) in China,” said Liang Wannian, deputy director of the ministry’s health emergency office. “Half of them could experience clinical symptoms [of swine flu], several million will seek medical help, and serious cases and fatalities will be unavoidable.”
He warned the virus was spreading from cities to the countryside, which was more prone to massive outbreaks because of poor hygiene habits and medical facilities. He also said there had been a shift from sporadic infections to cluster cases.
There has been a noticeable increase in the spread of the virus in recent weeks. Of the nearly 7,000 cases reported since June, over half were detected since August 24.
“Of these [recent] cases, nearly 95 per cent were contracted domestically, whereas the vast majority of cases reported from June to August originated abroad,” Liang said.
Liang said new trends in the spread of the virus had been identified - with cases moving from cities to rural areas, and from coastal provinces inland.
According to Liang, tests showed that most people were at risk of contracting the virus. He said serious cases had been found in Guangdong, Shanghai and Zhejiang.
“The daily number of new infections is rising, and there are increasing numbers of patients in a serious condition,” he said.
Schools are on the frontline of the fight against the spread. A Ministry of Education spokesman said every school in the country must test the temperatures of all pupils before class, and large indoor gatherings were forbidden.
Local health authorities should provide traditional Chinese medicine to schools in areas with many infections.
On Thursday, the State Council issued new regulations on handling outbreaks, ordering the ministries of health and education and the food and drug administration to co-ordinate prevention and control.
The regulations promised free vaccinations and flexible working hours for government departments, business and social service facilities.
The first batch of swine flu vaccines have been sent to eight provinces, including Guangdong.
On Wednesday, Beijing began vaccinating about 1.8 million residents aged 60 years and over, as well as pupils at primary and middle schools.
Henan -based Hualan company, one of two firms licensed to mass produce the vaccine, said it would produce 1.3 million doses before October 1.
Yan Jiangying, a spokeswoman of the State Food and Drug Administration, said the watchdog would carefully observe the effect of the new vaccines.
Post a Comment