BANGKOK—China's Health Minister Chen Zhu proposed Friday to convene an international scientific conference on Influenza A/H1N1 in the nearest possible date in China, as he and his counterparts from other ASEAN Plus Three countries meet in Bangkok in the face of the threat of the new flu virus.
China will work closely with and provide necessary technical assistance to ASEAN countries on flu-fighting, the minister said, adding that one possible area for collaboration is capacity building, another being scientific research. "If needed, China is willing to organize training courses for rapid diagnostic technology and provide reagents to ASEAN countries," Chen said.
His proposal came as he is attending the ministerial session of ASEAN Plus Three health ministers' special meeting on A/H1N1 Influenza, which proceeds on Thursday and Friday in Bangkok in a bid to map out cooperation plans and strategies to handle the potential pandemic of the new flu strain in the region.
Chen also extended China's support to the Joint Ministerial Statement on Influenza A/H1N1, which was drafted on Thursday's session and is being discussed and signed by the ministers Friday morning. A World Health Organization (WHO) officer said Wednesday that China has done "quite well" in battling against a possible pandemic of the A/H1N1 influenza.
"Overall, WHO feels that China has handled the situation with influenza A/H1N1 quite well," said Vivian Tan, communications officer with the WHO China, in a written reply to Xinhua. "China's experiences with SARS and avian influenza have prepared it well for the current situation with influenza A/H1N1,"she said.
However, the officer warned that "if it turns into a pandemic, China will probably not be spared." What's important is to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by focusing on early detection, public information, social distancing and treatment, she said. The 1.3 billion-populated country has mobilized several governmental sectors including Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and China Center for Disease Control to be engaged in prevention of the influenza's outbreak.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, has added 5 billion yuan (725 million U.S. dollars) for flu prevention and control work to nationwide health education campaigns about the virus.
hat-tip Helblindi
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