Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) –The World Health Organisation has declared that China is facing a mass Swine Flu epidemic because it is unable to trace some of the sources of infection.
Mao Qunan, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said yesterday the outbreak on the mainland had entered a new phase, in which local infections with uncertain sources were occurring and spreading in the community.
Yesterday the WHO declared a state of global pandemic asking governments to set up controls and prepare anti-viral medicines ahead of the winter season (in the Northern Hemisphere)
Since May 10 China reported cases of HINI infections, but they were immediately isolated and recognised as having been carried from abroad by people travelling from America or Mexico. Now the sources are local and there are infecting many communities.
By yesterday, the mainland had reported 141 cases of swine flu, including 16 new cases from Thursday. Sixty patients had been cured and released from hospital. There have been no reports of deaths.
Hans Troedsson, the WHO's China representative said China “is quite well prepared” to contain the epidemic.