Premier's warning over H7N9 virus
Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily |
00:04 UTC+8 April 29, 2013
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Print Edition
Print Edition
China's Premier Li Keqiang yesterday urged authorities to be vigilant against the new strain of bird flu that has killed 23 people, while saying that efforts to tackle the virus have so far been effective.
Speaking during a visit to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, the premier warned people to prepare for new developments amid fears H7N9 could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans.
"Countermeasures have been effective so far, but the situation is still developing as new cases turn up," Li said.
"We cannot afford to take it easy or relax, as we are facing a new virus," he said. "We should be prepared for any possible development."
He said more effort was needed to diagnose and treat people as early as possible.
Li pledged to spare no efforts in treating infected patients and reducing casualties.
"We will make sure no patients have to deal with delayed treatment because of costs," he said.
Li said the government will continue to cooperate with international organizations, release information openly and increase public awareness.
There have been a total of 115 cases of the virus in China since the government announced on March 31 that the virus had been found in humans for the first time.
Most cases have been confined to eastern China and the only case to have been reported outside Chinese mainland has been in Taiwan. The Taiwan man was infected in the eastern city of Suzhou.
Experts have warned of the possibility of more cases over a wider area.
Chinese researchers, reporting in medical journal The Lancet last Thursday, said they had confirmed poultry as a source of the virus.
The World Health Organization has said there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission so far but warned that H7N9 was "one of the most lethal" influenza viruses yet seen.
Speaking during a visit to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, the premier warned people to prepare for new developments amid fears H7N9 could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans.
"Countermeasures have been effective so far, but the situation is still developing as new cases turn up," Li said.
"We cannot afford to take it easy or relax, as we are facing a new virus," he said. "We should be prepared for any possible development."
He said more effort was needed to diagnose and treat people as early as possible.
Li pledged to spare no efforts in treating infected patients and reducing casualties.
"We will make sure no patients have to deal with delayed treatment because of costs," he said.
Li said the government will continue to cooperate with international organizations, release information openly and increase public awareness.
There have been a total of 115 cases of the virus in China since the government announced on March 31 that the virus had been found in humans for the first time.
Most cases have been confined to eastern China and the only case to have been reported outside Chinese mainland has been in Taiwan. The Taiwan man was infected in the eastern city of Suzhou.
Experts have warned of the possibility of more cases over a wider area.
Chinese researchers, reporting in medical journal The Lancet last Thursday, said they had confirmed poultry as a source of the virus.
The World Health Organization has said there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission so far but warned that H7N9 was "one of the most lethal" influenza viruses yet seen.
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