QUICK DETECTION: Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in researching quick methods to identify the A/H1N1 flu (CAI JUNTING)

SAFETY FIRST: China tightens safety checks for the A/H1N1 flu at railway stations (GAO XUEYU)

Swine flu, formally known as the A/H1N1 flu, has dealt a second blow to countries already reeling from the global financial crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings about a potential flu pandemic by raising its alert level.

Meanwhile, some international travelers who contracted swine flu have quickened the spread of the virus, which in turn has created some panic across the globe. Concerns over the disease also have prompted restrictions on pork product imports from affected countries and have had a negative impact on related industries.

Health experts believe that ordinary bird and swine viruses do not easily spread between humans. But the new strain, a complex mixture of pig, bird and human flu components, has turned out to be a rare bug that is circulating from human to human. By May 7, the WHO reported a total of 1,893 confirmed cases of human infection in 23 countries and regions, including 31 deaths. The symptoms are similar to those of the regular flu and include headaches, coughing, fever and diarrhea.

Worse still, the recent outpouring of reports about swine infections in the west Canadian province of Alberta has reignited global fears over pork safety. Although in theory it is less likely for humans to contract the virus from animals, calls for tighter flu surveillance and disease control have abounded to avoid the spread of the virus.

Precautionary measures are necessary to reduce human exposure to sick animals, such as restrictions at live pig markets and the use of disinfectants on affected swine farms, said Jiang Suchun, an infectious disease expert at the 302 Military Hospital of China, in a statement. Like any other influenza, the A/H1N1 virus may fizzle out in the coming months, but its movements still need to be closely tracked in case the fast-changing strain becomes even more lethal after mutations, he added.

Preventive measures

As the virus sweeps around the world, an array of countries has intensified their efforts to contain flu outbreaks, such as tightening quarantine procedures and medical precautions and stockpiling antiviral drugs. Although no A/H1N1 flu cases have been reported on the Chinese mainland so far, the country has put in place a series of sanitary and pre-emptive measures.

The country's nearest threat may come from Hong Kong, where a Mexican traveler recently tested positive for the flu after a stopover at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. But extensive checks and medical observations of people who came into contact with the person yielded no signs of community contagions either in Hong Kong or Shanghai.

With rich antiviral resources and a well-organized health system in place, China is well-positioned to ward off the emerging influenza. More importantly, the country has applied lessons learned from the 2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak and responded swiftly to the looming threat.