Chinese health expert says no need to panic in face of flu

Source: Xinhua | 05-02-2009 12:05

BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese epidemiological expert here suggested that people do not need to be panic when a new flu hit a large part of the world, but should meanwhile pay more attention to their health.

"What a common person needs to do now is what he usually does to protect himself from a normal flu," said Professor Huang Jianshi from the Peking Union Medical College, according to Saturday's China Youth Daily. "The key word is to stay healthy."

Many factors affect a person's health, such as life style, natural and social environment. Medical service only plays a small part, he said.

China confirmed its first influenza A/H1N1 case in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Friday but the mainland has reported no case.

Health Minister Chen Zhu had warned against the possible spread of the new flu and the said the ministry had raised the level of prevention.

China has done a lot of work to prepare itself for a nationwide health accident since the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, Huang said.