CRI听力: A/H1N1 Influenza Affecting Local Communities in China

Anchor:
Since the first case of A/H1N1 in mainland China was reported on May 11th, the virus has been found in over one third of the country, and some experts fear the momentum of the outbreak may be difficult to stop.

Zhao Kun has the details.(www.hXen.com)

Reporter:
Professor Zeng Guang is chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Ever since the entry of A/H1N1 into mainland China, he has been keeping a close eye on the development of the virus. However, he says, in spite of the huge preventative efforts the government has been making over the past month, China is still at loss for a way to stop the disease from spreading further.

"The virus is spreading at a very fast rate in China. The number of new confirmed cases each day is now equal to the number of cases China was confirming every week a short time ago. What's more, most of those recently diagnosed with the disease were infected within local communities. Initially it was just returnees from abroad that were confirmed with the virus."

Early this week, 37 elementary students in Guangdong were tested positive with the flu. It's the first time the virus has hit a local community on the mainland. Since the early cases mainly came from people entering China from abroad, the country tightened checkup and supervision at its ports of entry, closely tracking and quarantining individual patients. However, Zeng Guang stresses that in light of the highly infectious nature of this new strain of flu, especially within densely populated communities, old measures are not sufficient on their own.

"Actually, before the incident in Guangdong, the Ministry of Health issued an announcement stating that, in the case of a rampant spread of the virus in local communities, it would move to closely monitor these areas. In such a case the community commission and township government are responsible for blocking further spread."

At the same time, Zeng Guang points out that scientists are starting to recognize that traditional Chinese medicine may be effective in combating A/H1N1, although a consensus on exactly how this may help has not been reached.

"Chinese medicine may either help fight against the virus or enhance people's immune system. Given that China has a long history in dealing with epidemics such as typhoid for example, we shouldn't overlook the value of traditional Chinese medicine in combating the new strain of influenza."

Professor Hu Mengyun of Beijing University of Chinese medicine echoes this opinion. She says right now current theories about life maintenance or "yang sheng" from Chinese medicine are of importance for ordinary people.

"One should pay attention to diet and heat stroke prevention in the current high temperatures we're experiencing. The hot weather weakens the immune system by opening the pores of the body making infection more likely."

She says taking traditional medicine such as "Ban Lan Gen" and "Kou Yan Qing", could also help boost the immune system.

For China Drive, I'm Zhao Kun.