China drafts emergency plans for influenza
By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-12 05:44

Orange is when human-to-human infections occur among a small group of people.

In this situation, people are encouraged to dial a special phone number to report outbreaks. Schools, factories and other institutions will be closed, in addition to a number of other measures.

Red level marks the most severe threat, when a large-scale flu outbreak occurs.

Correspondingly, health authorities will report the outbreak on a regular basis, and will give out medications and vaccines against the virus.

Dr Julie Hall, co-ordinator in charge of communicable disease surveillance and response with World Health Organization (WHO) China, said late last week that a pandemic is overdue.

Thirty-seven years have passed since China last reported an outbreak.

Yang said inoculation and surveillance are only measures to curb an endemic.

(China Daily 09/12/2005 page2)