CHINA: EXIT SCREENING FOR H1N1 IMPORTANT

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, May 8 (Bernama) -- Defending its decision to quarantine
travellers from Mexico and other countries despite not detecting symptoms of the
H1N1 virus, China wants affected countries to implement exit screening to stop
the spread of the new Influenza A disease.

Its health minister, Dr Chen Zhu, said such screenings were as important as
those at entry points in each country as being implemented worldwide now.

Citing a statement by World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general
Dr Margaret Chan that ill people should delay their travel plans, Dr Chen said
exit screening was necessary as there was concern that a second wave of the
H1N1 disease could be more deadly.

"We agree with Dr Margaret that travel restriction plays limited role. But
on
the other hand, WHO advised people who are ill to delay their international
travel...(that's) what that means," he told reporters on the sidelines of a
special Asean +3 Health Ministers Meeting on the H1N1 threat here Friday.

Admitting that cross-border screening and quarantine measures were
sensitive,
Dr Chen said it was important to reduce the risk to the people by taking
preventive measures, including people with symptoms or those who came close to
suspected cases as this would help to mitigate a second wave.

Mainland China, which is still free of the H1N1 disease but with one
confirmed
case in Hong Kong, has denied it was discriminating Mexicans by
quarantining them as a safeguard against the H1N1 flu outbreak.

"We need to take all these tough measures as we have (a) 1.3 billion
population...these are high mobility people.

"Our medical infrastructure level at some remote areas are not up to the
standard and it's very sensitive to (the) outbreak," he said.
The latest WHO updates showed that there are 2,371 cases of H1N1 infection
in
24 countries, with Mexico, believed to be the source of the outbreak, reporting
1,112 cases, including 42 deaths.

Dr (Margaret) Chan, who addressed the ministers via video conferencing, said
WHO was not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak, but
advised individuals who were ill to delay travel plans and returning travelers
who fell ill, to seek appropriate medical care.

The issue of exit screening was brought up during the senior officials
meeting Thursday, but some countries were against making it mandatory as it
would have an impact on travel and trade, especially during the time many
countries faced severe economic downturn, with huge costs involved.

Dr Chen also said China was pushing its companies that had licence to
produce Tamiflu and other anti-viral drugs to increase production as it tried
to have a stockpile of one per cent of its population.

Asked if the country was advising its citizens to stop consuming pork, Dr
Chen said that was unnecessary as experts have confirmed it was safe to eat
well-cooked meat.

-- BERNAMA