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Tight border checks to ward off virus

By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-05 07:39

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"Because the epidemic has not reached the mainland, the priority for us is to guard the borders," Li said yesterday at a meeting with health officials and experts.

Preparedness in technology and materials and arrangement of designated hospitals were crucial links in emergency plans, the vice-premier said.

He highlighted the implementation of the State Council's decisions, and of its prevention and control mechanism.

The mechanism is composed of one expert committee and eight working teams.

Li said he attached great importance to the transparency and timely reporting of information about the virus and in the promotion of health literacy.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) dispatched six teams to prevent and the virus from entering the mainland Monday.

The six key borders require passengers to undergo health checks.

It came as the mainland banned hog and pork product imports from the Canadian province of Alberta after pigs tested positive for the virus.

The decision was made in order to "protect the security of animal husbandry and the health of the people," the AQSIQ said.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Canadian pork was still safe, and that the animals likely contracted the virus from a Canadian who recently returned from Mexico.

The development followed other Chinese bans on pork from Mexico, Texas, Kansas and California.

The World Health Organization said there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food.

The mainland, the world's largest consumer of pork, has not reported any confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. Hong Kong has reported a confirmed case.

Chinese scientists have developed a diagnostic reagent to test for the virus in pigs within five hours.

The method could also provide vaccine references for the virus in humans, Ministry of Agriculture said.

National Tourism Administration has ordered tourism bureaus to brief foreign tourists about prevention and control measures and conduct health and quarantine checks at borders.

The authority has also strengthened measures for international ships at port cities.

It has told 12 Chinese tourists currently in Mexico to return via other countries and report to AQSIQ.