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China vows to fend killer flu out of border

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-05 11:45

BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang on Monday vowed to keep the worsening global epidemic of influenza A/H1N1 out of China's border, while the same day the government sent a chartered plane to Mexico to pick up around stranded 200 Chinese nationals.

"The most important work at present was to strictly check on border entry" as the killer disease has been mainly reported overseas, Li said during a visit to the Ministry of Health.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (2nd R) arrives to attend a symposium together with experts on prevention and control of A/H1N1 Flu at the Ministry of Health in Beijing, Monday May 4, 2009.  [Xinhua]

China could not rule out the possibility of the virus' spreading into its border although no confirmed case had been reported yet on its mainland, Li warned.

Related readings:  A(H1N1) Influenza Outbreak Related readings:  Quarantine measures 'proper and necessary'  No flu sign on quarantined passengers so far  Some fear flu rebound as Mexico seeks 'normalcy'  Flu scare brings back memory of SARS  787 H1N1 flu cases in 17 countries

"We must be fully prepared and strive for the best outcome through orderly and effective work," he said. He ordered government bodies to step up technical equipment and material storage, arrange designated hospitals and be well prepared for emergencies.

Information transparency was of key importance to the scientific epidemic prevention and control, he said, calling for further improvement in information publicity.

"Infections within our border must be immediately publicized, and the prevention and control work must be transparent," he said.

Chartered Flight

In light of the plight of around 200 Chinese citizens still stranded in Mexico, center of the flu outbreak, the government sent a chartered flight late Monday to pick them up.

The plane left Guangzhou for Mexico City and Tijuana at 10 p.m. and is expected to return to Shanghai at 9 a.m. Wednesday, China Southern Airlines said.

The 17-strong crew have been trained on precautions against the flu and dealing with any health emergencies.

A quarantine expert from the Ministry of Health and doctors from the airline would closely monitor the health conditions of the passengers.

If any passengers developed symptoms like fever, all the passengers and flight crew would probably be quarantined after returning to China, sources with the airline told Xinhua.

China suspended flights from Mexico to Shanghai starting Saturday after a 25-year-old Mexican man, who arrived in Shanghai Thursday aboard flight Aeromexico 098, was later diagnosed with influenza A/H1N1 in Hong Kong.

The Mexican became Hong Kong's first confirmed case of influenza A/H1N1 infection Friday. It was also the first such case in Asia.

China Monday cancelled a chartered flight to Mexico to pick up 120 or so stranded passengers. The airline said another 80 Chinese citizens have requested to take the expected chartered flight back to the country.

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