Shanghai's quarantine department said it will boost checks on passengers from West Nile epidemic-hit areas in the United States.

The epidemic has killed dozens of people in the US.

Passengers coming from the state of Texas and surrounding areas in the US will be subjected to stricter quarantine checks at the city's airports, according to the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

The West Nile virus is mainly transmitted by infected mosquitoes.

The bureau said it will boost checks on visitors and luggage. Besides, goods and mail from the epidemic-hit region will be also under strict scrutiny.

People who have visited the epidemic-hit region and suffer from fever or rashes should report to local quarantine authorities or visit hospitals immediately, the bureau said.

The bureau added that there's no cause for alarm as the possibility of a secondary epidemic of the disease is very low.

Contact the writer at wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn