CRI20080508China Strengthens Efforts to Control Viral Disease
大耳朵英语  http://www.ebigear.com  2008-05-08 12:45:21  【打印
China's Health Ministry says the country will likely report a higher incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in June and July.

But officials stress health sectors at all levels are taking measures to control and prevent the spread of the epidemic.



Our reporter Lin Lin has more.



Reporter:



China has reported 28 deaths and almost 16 thousand infections since the outbreak began in late March.

Most of the deaths, and around 5 thousand cases have been in Fuyang city in the eastern province of Anhui.



The health ministry says China is now making efforts to bring the disease under control in the city.



Mao Qu'nan is a spokesman for the ministry.



"At present, except in Fuyang, the hand-foot-and-mouth disease incidence nationwide has not largely increased. Experts estimated that cases might be reported in more places in the country in June and July. But with timely and appropriate measures, the spread of the epidemic can be contained."



Because of the response by the ministry and the local health sector, no deaths have been reported in Fuyang in the past six days.



To strengthen the efforts to bring the disease under control, the health ministry has sent an expert team to disease-hit areas and added special facilities to counter the epidemic, which is triggered by the intestinal virus, Enterovirus 71.

In addition, China is working closely with the World Health Organization, which has said prevention measures include washing hands with soap.



Hans Troedsson, the organization's China representative, met Chinese health minister Chen Zhu on Monday.



Troedsson said China has responded quickly, and the outbreak will not threaten the Beijing Olympic Games which start in less than three months.



"China has the capacity from central to local level to manage to control and prevent the disease. What I see WHO's role here which be in discussing with minister of health is to share experience from other countries and also we need to be able to provide if there is requested of specific expertise for specific issues."



Lin Lin, CRI news.v