Anchor:
China is on high alert following the outbreak of a mysterious new swine flu in Mexico. Disease control and prevention agencies have been ordered to closer monitor the virus. Zhangcheng reports.

Reporter:
China's Customs officers have started screening arriving passengers for flu symptoms since the outbreak of swine flu reported in Mexico and the US.

A Shenzhen airport health official, says any ill passengers would be isolated.

"If we find possible symptoms of flu on passengers, or if they report themselves to us we will take actions to check and isolate that passenger."

The Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine says China has the capacity to detect the Swine Influenza A/H1N1. The academy is currently assisting the government, take necessary measures, to prevent the entry of the swine flu.

In Beijing, an information exchange system has been set up between the health and inspection and quarantine departments.

The disease control and prevention authority has pooled its experts to assess the potential risks of the swine flu outbreak. They are now working on contingency plans for the disease.

Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, Deng Ying, says the capital has stepped up surveillance of the flu. More than 120 hospitals in Beijing will examine suspicious fever cases.

Deng Ying says if the patient has made visits to the flu-affected areas or has contacted with swine flu patients, the hospitals will report their cases to related departments within two hours.

"We will conduct careful epidemic inspections on the patients who show symptoms of flu. If the patient is diagnosed with swine flu in the preliminary examination, he or she must be isolated for treatment for at least one week."

He also says in the coming days, medical personnel will receive specific training for preventing and detecting swine flu. Hospitals will also provide the medicine supplies needed.

Dr. Wang Jing is an expert, with the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine. She says although there is no vaccine to fight the virus so far, the swine flu is preventable, controllable, and treatable.

"Chinese citizens needn't to be over anxious about it. There are quite effective preventive measures against the virus. Those preventive and therapeutic measures for other influenzas could also treat the swine flu. So there is no need to worry."

She says this virus is not spread through food.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. The virus could be killed if the pork is heated over 71 degrees Celsius.
Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to the symptoms of regular flu.

This includes fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well.

Dr Wang Jing says the flu can be spread person-to-person, through coughing or sneezing.

"The preventive measures are mainly for safeguarding the respiratory system. Citizens should maintain good personal hygiene, keep good ventilation in their rooms and wash hands often. Medical alcohol could also be used to disinfect daily necessities. What's more, citizens should avoid crowded public areas, and avoid close contact with people showing symptoms of influenza."

According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, no case of the swine flu had been so far reported in China.

Zhangcheng, CRI news.