National health vows more steps to curb spread of chikungunya

The National Health Commission, China's top health authority, pledged on Wednesday to strengthen risk assessments and take resolute control measures to combat a domestic outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease that has infected over 4,000 in South China.

The commission has called for carrying out multichannel surveillance and early warnings to prevent the domestic spread of the virus and imported infections during a national teleconference dedicated to tackling the virus.

Lei Haichao, director of the commission, attended and delivered a speech at the meeting.

More efforts should be made to step up environmental sanitation, disinfection of high-risk sites as well as scientific and effective measures aimed at eliminating, preventing and avoiding mosquitoes, the commission said.

Medical institutions are instructed to enhance quality control in medical testing and improve outpatient and emergency care management.

They should also boost their early detection capabilities and deliver standardized treatment as part of all-out efforts to prevent related severe cases and deaths.

The commission also requires ramping up public education, releasing epidemic information accurately and guiding the public to take correct preventive measures.