Schools put on flu watch after two confirmed cases

By Lan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-16 08:57

Teachers will investigate the absence of any student from class after two confirmed cases of A(H1N1) influenza on the mainland in the past week.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) instructed schools to check the attendance of students and teachers every morning and investigate the reason behind any absence, the MOE said in a notification released on Thursday.

Schools have been told to report to the local disease control center and notify the education department within two hours of any student showing flu-like symptoms.

MOE has also strengthened preventative measures in boarding schools, especially those in rural areas, and advised students with flu-like symptoms to go to hospital and put themselves under medical observation if necessary.

All schools were also told to strengthen health education for students.

China confirmed its second case of the virus on Wednesday after a man who had recently arrived from Canada was hospitalized in eastern Shandong province.

The patient with China's first confirmed case of H1N1, a 30-year-old man who flew to the country from the United States via Japan, is recovering.

Meanwhile, provinces and municipalities have also stepped up control and prevention measures.

The Beijing municipal public health bureau suggested any citizen whose temperature is higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius and who has a fever or cough, should go to hospital immediately.

The city has set up infectious disease units in 96 hospitals and has designated 38 laboratories to conduct A(H1N1) virus detection.

Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control has registered local residents who returned from flu-affected countries in North America in the last seven days.

Meanwhile, the North China bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has discussed prevention measures with more than 30 airline companies under its jurisdiction.

The CAAC bureau on Friday advised domestic and international airlines to allow passengers who hold certificates that prove their quarantine has expired, to transfer to another flight without paying extra money.

It also urged airlines to give priority to the transportation of medicines for fighting A(H1N1) flu.

On Thursday, health Minister Chen Zhu spoke with his Mexican counterpart Jose Cordova on the telephone. Chen said that steps taken by China had been "legally based, scientific and timely" and were targeted purely at safeguarding public health.

Cordova said countries could finally win the battle against the epidemic by making a joint effort and sharing experience.