Epidemic monitoring systems will also be strengthened for early discovery, reporting and timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, if there are any, the State Council concluded.

High-profile inspection

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang paid a visit on May 11 to the flu patient, medical staff and people under medical observation in Chengdu. He called for enhanced prevention and control of the A/H1N1 flu "in the spirit of taking responsibility for the public's health" so as to ensure public health and safety.

The patient was in stable condition with a normal body temperature and was recovering, the MOH said.

Li visited the Chengdu Infectious Disease Hospital and used a video monitor to communicate with the patient, who was staying in a negative pressure isolation room. Li then asked doctors about Bao's condition and treatment in detail. He told medical staff to treat the patient in line with preset plans so that he would quickly recover.

Medical staff were told to protect themselves and prevent further spread of the disease.

Li also visited doctors and nurses from Sichuan People's Hospital, Bao's first stop after getting off the plane. They were under medical observation at a hotel as they had close contact with the patient during his stay in the hospital. They said they knew that the quarantine measures were necessary and were conducive to protecting their and all the people's health.

Inspecting the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Li said the first mainland case of the A/H1N1 flu had been confirmed "in a very short period of time" after "instant diagnosis and consultation." He told the staff there to follow the case, promptly analyze the development of the disease, sum up their experience and improve measures to prevent and control the flu.

Further measures should be taken to "enhance entry-exit inspection and quarantine and step up technological preparations and material storage," Li said. He also stressed that transparent prevention and control work was vital to ensure people's right to know and to prevent panic.

Li said domestic and international studies have shown that the A/H1N1 flu is preventable, controllable and treatable.

"Public education should be strengthened to enhance people's ability to prevent the disease so as to ensure normal life, smooth and relatively fast economic development and a harmonious and stable society," he said.