Health bureau dismisses rumors of new flu
- Source: Global Times
- [08:22 April 22 2011]
- Comments
Health authorities debunked rumors of a new flu virus Wednesday and assured citizens Beijing is well guarded against infectious diseases. Meanwhile, last week saw the capital's first hand, foot and mouth disease death.
Many citizens received text messages saying, "A new flu virus named H3N1 is spreading in the city. It is transmitted via air and has fever and cold-like symptoms. There's no vaccine for it. Please frequently wash your hands and tell your families," the Beijing Evening News reported.
The Beijing Municipal Health Bureau has never released such information, and the bureau has not found any new viruses, the report quoted a bureau official as saying, adding that H3N1 already is a known virus.
However, last week did witness the first death caused by hand, foot and mouth disease this year in Beijing, according to a bureau press release.
The period from April to July is high season for the disease, the bureau stated, and any kindergartens with 10 students infected with the disease should be closed for 10 days.
The health bureau assured citizens that Beijing is highly guarded against infectious diseases.
A total of 16 vaccines have been listed in the capital's immunization service plan, and over 10 million people receive vaccinations each year in Beijing, according to the release.
Infectious diseases were once the leading cause of mortality in Beijing, responsible for 30 percent of deaths in 1949. Now the figure has dropped to lower than 1 percent, according to the release.
Global Times
