First H1N1 mass infection in Beijing

Sixteen students at the Nanhu Zhongyuan Primary School in Chaoyang District are reported to have a fever, and seven have been diagnosed with A/H1N1 flu, according to the Beijing municipal health bureau. The school has been closed since yesterday.

Fang Laiying, chief of the Beijing municipal health bureau, said the seven students are now in stable condition in hospital. A total of 154 students, teachers and parents who had close contact with the seven students are under observation.

The flu outbreak forced the school to start the summer vacation a week ahead of schedule.

This is the first H1N1 mass infection in Beijing. The capital health department called for tight prevention and control measures among students before summer vacation.

An emergency meeting of education committees from Beijing's 18 districts and counties was held Wednesday to intensify prevention of the pandemic among students, especially at major events held during summer vacation.

As of yesterday, the mainland has reported 867 confirmed cases, with 155 in Beijing.

Meanwhile, an A/H1N1 flu patient died "accidentally" Wednesday in east China's Zhejiang Province, local health authorities said late Wednesday. The cause of death is still unknown.

Story: Zhou Shanshan | Editor: Rencong | Source: CCTV.com