Flu hits schools in Guangdong, tighter control wanted

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-29 07:17

Flu outbreaks at three schools in Guangdong province struck 22 students, prompting calls for tighter prevention and control measures at the community level.

There were 51 new cases of A(H1N1) flu on the Chinese mainland between 6 pm Saturday and 6 pm Sunday, bringing the total to 729, with no reports of deaths.

Of 30 new cases confirmed in Guangdong, nine were from Xi'nan Central Primary School in Foshan, six were from Trade Vocational School in Guangzhou and seven were from Shipai County Central Primary School in Dongguan.

The students were all in stable condition.

Xi'nan Central Primary School last Friday asked more than 600 first-grade students not to come to school for seven days, while Shipai County Central Primary School closed for one week last Monday when 30 students were confirmed infected with H1N1.

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A(H1N1) Influenza Outbreak

The Beijiao Central Primary School in Pengjiang district of Jiangmen confirmed 11 cases of the virus on Tuesday and was closed for seven days.

The Guangdong provincial health department called for tight prevention and control measures among students before summer vacation begins.

"Prevention efforts should now focus on outbreaks at the community level," Xu Ruiheng, a doctor with the provincial center for disease control and prevention told Guangzhou Daily.

Meanwhile, 10 new cases were reported in Sichuan province, seven in Shanghai, six in Beijing, three in Zhejiang province and two in Fujian province. Tianjin municipality and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region each reported one new case.

Guangdong has 214 confirmed H1N1 flu cases, the most on the mainland.

Beijing has asked the city's 1.24 million primary and secondary school students to return to the city seven days before the next semester starts.

China Daily-Xinhua