China's vice health minister Yin Li on Monday ordered greater efforts to control and prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases during the pandemics-prone seasons of spring and summer.

"No large outbreaks of infectious diseases have occurred yet, but the control and prevention situation remains grave. We must in no way drop our guard," Yin told a national meeting on disease control in Beijing.

Yin ordered stricter monitoring of flu patients, flu patients in serious conditions, and flu deaths, to closely track virus mutation.

In case of a flu breakout, Yin said that health authorities should initiate emergency inoculation of A/HIN1 vaccines, if necessary.

To prevent an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Yin said that health authorities at all levels should take precautions because infections of HFMD are expected to increase sharply starting in March.

He called for comprehensive measures, with the extermination of rats, to prevent the spread of hemorrhagic fever, an infectious respiratory disease.

Yin also ordered intensified disease control measures in schools.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2011)