ID :
77985
Wed, 09/02/2009 - 14:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/77985
The shortlink copeid
CHINA DECLARES SCHOOLS AS FRONTLINE IN BATTLE AGAINST H1N1 FLU
By Vincent Low
BEIJING, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health has declared all institutions of learning as the frontline in China's battle against Influenza A(H1N1) now that the autumn semester begins this month after the summer break.
It has outlined several measures which these institutions would have to
implement to check the spread of the disease which has hit 3,398 people, 3,078
of whom have recovered. No H1N1 deaths have been reported in China.
The ministry's deputy director, Mao Qun'an, said all schools would have to
test the body temperature of their students every morning before the start of
classes and submit a daily report to the health authorities, even when no cases
were detected.
"All universities, schools and nurseries should formulate plans to prevent
A(H1N1) flu outbreak," he said, adding that schools and nurseries would have to
allocate a budget on flu prevention and educate students on self hygiene and
cleanliness.
Local media reported that a senior high school in the central province of
Henan had 80 confirmed cases of the flu and more than 2,800 students and
teachers had been quarantined.
A junior high school in the northwestern province of Gansu had reported 26
cases and a few cases were reported in Qinghua University.
Mao said schools would be given top priority in vaccine inoculation.
He also said that local health departments should be prepared for a possible
mass outbreak of the flu during autumn and winter.
Meanwhile, a panel of experts from the State Food and Drug Administration
(SFDA) certified a H1N1 flu vaccine developed by the Beijing-based Sinovac
Biotech Company on Monday after clinical trials had proven that it was safe for
use.
The vaccine would be appropriate for anyone aged three to 60, said SFDA's
Drug Evaluation Centre vaccine expert Zhao Kai at an experts' certification
meeting.
The first batch of the vaccine produced by Sinovac should be out before the
end of this month, and would be able to meet the demand of one per cent of the
country's population.
The first 40,000 doses of a vaccine developed by Chinese scientists have
come off the production line in Shanghai.
The Shanghai Institute of Biological Products is expected to produce about
10 million doses of this vaccine by the end of the year, which can meet the
nation's demand for prevention and control of A(H1N1).
Deputy Health Minister Yin Li said Monday local health departments would
organise vulnerable groups for inoculation after A(H1N1) flu vaccination
regulations have been issued.
As suggested by the health authorities, the vulnerable groups include
healthcare workers, pregnant women and people aged six months and above with
chronic medical conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health has declared all institutions of learning as the frontline in China's battle against Influenza A(H1N1) now that the autumn semester begins this month after the summer break.
It has outlined several measures which these institutions would have to
implement to check the spread of the disease which has hit 3,398 people, 3,078
of whom have recovered. No H1N1 deaths have been reported in China.
The ministry's deputy director, Mao Qun'an, said all schools would have to
test the body temperature of their students every morning before the start of
classes and submit a daily report to the health authorities, even when no cases
were detected.
"All universities, schools and nurseries should formulate plans to prevent
A(H1N1) flu outbreak," he said, adding that schools and nurseries would have to
allocate a budget on flu prevention and educate students on self hygiene and
cleanliness.
Local media reported that a senior high school in the central province of
Henan had 80 confirmed cases of the flu and more than 2,800 students and
teachers had been quarantined.
A junior high school in the northwestern province of Gansu had reported 26
cases and a few cases were reported in Qinghua University.
Mao said schools would be given top priority in vaccine inoculation.
He also said that local health departments should be prepared for a possible
mass outbreak of the flu during autumn and winter.
Meanwhile, a panel of experts from the State Food and Drug Administration
(SFDA) certified a H1N1 flu vaccine developed by the Beijing-based Sinovac
Biotech Company on Monday after clinical trials had proven that it was safe for
use.
The vaccine would be appropriate for anyone aged three to 60, said SFDA's
Drug Evaluation Centre vaccine expert Zhao Kai at an experts' certification
meeting.
The first batch of the vaccine produced by Sinovac should be out before the
end of this month, and would be able to meet the demand of one per cent of the
country's population.
The first 40,000 doses of a vaccine developed by Chinese scientists have
come off the production line in Shanghai.
The Shanghai Institute of Biological Products is expected to produce about
10 million doses of this vaccine by the end of the year, which can meet the
nation's demand for prevention and control of A(H1N1).
Deputy Health Minister Yin Li said Monday local health departments would
organise vulnerable groups for inoculation after A(H1N1) flu vaccination
regulations have been issued.
As suggested by the health authorities, the vulnerable groups include
healthcare workers, pregnant women and people aged six months and above with
chronic medical conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
-- BERNAMA
