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Chinese calm in face of flu

By Wang Hongyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-08 07:50

SHANGHAI: Many Chinese believe the A(H1N1) virus is preventable, controllable and curable, a survey of 3,619 people has revealed.

The Shanghai health education institution polled mostly young people and adults from Shanghai and found 85.7 percent felt calm in the face of a possible outbreak in China.

Civil Aid Service workers in protective gear lead a group of people released from quarantine in Hong Kong Thursday. [Edmond Tang/China Daily]

About 98.5 percent said they had virus-related information or knowledge, mainly accessed through the media.

About 75 percent said they knew the way the virus was transmitted, its characteristics, and about prevention and protection.

"That means the citywide education on flu control and prevention has had a significant effect, and there is no unnecessary fear about the flu within the general public," an official surnamed Zhang from Shanghai health authorities said.

Almost 90 percent of those surveyed believed they would not be infected with the flu if they ate well-cooked pork.

Full coverage:  A（H1N1）Influenza Outbreak Related readings:  One passenger from flu-affected flight kept in quarantine  Health ministers of ASEAN+3 countries meet for flu-fighting  Hu, Obama talk on phone about flu epidemic  WHO official: China doing 'quite well' in handling flu  SARS expert urges vigilance against A(H1N1) flu

In addition, 76.2 percent of participants said they would like more information about virus prevention and control that could be taken in daily life, and 73.3 percent said they would pay more attention to the news about epidemic infection in foreign countries.

"We take this very seriously," a 32-year-old woman surnamed Chen said.

"I bought a dozen health masks for my family soon after the young Mexican male was diagnosed with the flu in Hong Kong."

"It is very important to take stringent precautions against any unsanitary living habits."

Chen also said her family no longer eats at restaurants and that she cooks at home.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old white-collar worker Lu Wei said many people were "over sensitive".

"But it is understandable after the SARS experience in the country," he said.

He also noted that good living and hygienic habits are important and necessary at any time.

According to Shanghai health bureau, people infected with the flu accounted for 0.52 percent of all patients at city-level hospitals from January to April, down 7.27 percent from the same period last year.