China on high alert for A/H1N1 flu cases

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-11-2009 13:49

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Local governments in China are on high alert for suspected A/H1N1 flu cases. They are tracking passengers on the same flight as confirmed virus carriers and are having them quarantined.

Journalists wait outside a hospital where a Chinese man is  quarantined, the first confirmed case of the new H1N1 strain  of flu in mainland China, in Chengdu, Sichuan province May  10, 2009. Mainland China on Monday reported its first  confirmed case of the new H1N1 strain of flu, formerly  referred to as swine flu, a man in southwestern Sichuan  province who had flown home from the United States. Picture  taken May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Stringer

In Sichuan, 150 passengers were on the same plane as the suspected case. Over 130 passengers have been found, and the province is gearing up to take more preventive measures. 7 Chinese passengers were on the same flight, NW-025, that has 4 confirmed Japanese virus carriers. They later arrived on flights to Beijing and Shanghai, and are in quarantine.

In the Hong Kong SAR, preliminary tests show 2 passengers on the NW-025 flight are not infected with the virus. But they will remain in quarantine until Friday. Another 19 passengers on the same plane may also have arrived in Hong Kong. So far, the SAR government has been in touch with three of them. It is also calling for the other passengers to contact the government immediately if they are in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, 2 earlier suspected cases have been proven not to be the A/H1N1 flu. The mother and daughter recently returned to the island from the US. They have been diagnosed with the seasonal flu.

Editor:Liu Anqi