Strict anti-flu measures urged after 1st case

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-11 21:57

BEIJING -- Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Monday called for enhanced vigilance and strict steps against the A(H1N1) influenza after the country's mainland reported its first case.

"We must attach great importance to the fact that the flu epidemic is still spreading in some countries and regions, and that China has discovered one case," Hu said after learning about the latest development of the epidemic.

He ordered governments at all levels to spare no efforts to put all emergency response measures in place in order to curb further spread of the disease.

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A Chinese mainland male surnamed Bao, who recently returned from the United States, tested positive for the A(H1N1) influenza early on Monday, becoming the first such case reported on the Chinese mainland.

The State Council, or the Cabinet, held a meeting Monday to discuss further steps for the prevention of the disease.

Officials at the meeting, which was presided over by Premier Wen, agreed that China faces a "complicated and grave" situation as the epidemic has yet been controlled globally and new cases kept emerging.

Strict quarantine will continue to be adopted on people, goods and vehicles entering its border from countries that have reported the A(H1N1) cases.

Epidemic monitoring and reporting systems will also be strengthened for early discovery, early report, and timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, if there is any, according to the meeting.

The 30-year-old patient was at the Chengdu Infectious Disease Hospital in Chengdu, southwestern Sichuan's provincial capital. Those who had close contact with him were isolated for observation.

The patient is currently in a stable condition with a normal body temperature, and is "recovering", the health ministry said.