A noted influenza expert is warning of a possible small-range
outbreak of flu in China in this coming winter and early spring
next year.
Prof. Guo Yuanji, of the China Disease Prevention and Control
Center, said on Thursday that many signs indicated an active flu
virus this year, but he ruled out the possibility of avian
influenza, or "bird flu".
In
spring this year, cases of the influenza A-3 virus rose sharply and
a new variant developed. Since the year 2000, the flu situation has
been stable. As a general rule, however, there was apeak outbreak
of flu after several stable years, said Guo.
A
medical survey across the country showed most people examinedhad
the antibody of the virus, Guo said, and generally, when 70 percent
of a population had an antibody, the virus was likely to
mutate.
He
acknowledged that many people mistook mycoplasmal infection for the
flu. In recent years, he said, the beginning of November saw an
increase in cases of mycoplasmal infection in Beijing, but usually
flu cases emerged at the end of November.
(People's Daily July 10, 2003)
