CRI听力: New Plan to Control Outbreaks of A/H1N1 Flu in China's Communities

Anchor: China confirmed 33 new A/H1N1 flu cases Thursday, bringing the total on the mainland to 297 with no fatalities.

Of all patients, 135 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals
In its latest move to fight the pandemic, the Chinese Health Ministry has released a new plan to control outbreaks in the communities.

Zheng Chenguang has more.(www.hXen.com)

The Ministry of Health says the possibility of a flu outbreak in various communities is high. And the surveillance for possible A/H1N1 cases is being shifted from monitoring travelers to watching communities.

The new plan will be implemented if multiple infections occure in communities within two weeks. The plan also includes preventive and control measures, aiming to contain the source of infections.

The plan also stipulates that community committees provide support to quarantined personnel. And medical facilities there would have to set up an observation and reporting system. People with flu symptoms are also requested to stay at home.

Zeng Guang is a top epidemiology expert with the Chinese Center of Disease Control and Prevention. He says community-level health institutions will play an important role in combating the flu.

"Setting up community clinics will be critical to fight the pandemic. It's not necessary for patients to go to big hospitals for treatment. Because they may transmit the virus to others on their way to the hospitals, and there is no specific cure for the flu at big hospitals."

The expert notes patients with mild symptoms could be quarantined at home and recover under the guidance of clinics in their communities.
 
He also suggests these patients take medicinal herbs for treatment, and discourage the use of Tamiflu on a large scale.

"Tamiflu is always used to treat patients who are in critical conditions. We don't think it should be used as a preventive medicine, because Tamiflu may help the virus develop immunity. The more people take Tamiflu, the more resilient the virus might be."

Meanwhile, five Chinese vaccine manufacturers have so far received the A/H1N1 seed viruses. The first batch of the vaccine is expected to be available by the end of July.

Zheng Chenguang, CRI news.