Overseas student urges hometrip delay

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A Chinese student studying overseas has ignited controversy by suggesting his peers in flu-infected countries delay trips back to China because of the H1N1 virus.

"I am simply being responsible to our motherland and to my family," Sheng Liyu, a Columbia University student, was quoted as saying by the Guangzhou Daily.

"We are in the flu-affected area," said Sheng, who delayed plans to travel to London and China. "Being more cautious is the right thing to do."

The two confirmed cases of H1N1 flu on the Chinese mainland are both overseas students who came home on vacation, raising worries that the return of more students will increase the risk of the virus spreading to the mainland.

Online debates have raged over whether it was right for a 19-year-old student surnamed Lu from a Canadian university to expose potential victims to the virus.

After his flight back to China, Lu spent three days in Beijing, including trips to the Great Wall and the Houhai bar area, and took a train from Beijing to Shandong province even after he developed a fever of 39 C.

"It's critical right now. We should suspend plans to go home," said Wang Yan of New York University.

But some say delaying trips home is an over-reaction.

After a tiring flight from Chicago to Shanghai, student Yu Jian spent another two hours at airport checkpoints.

Yu told the Guangzhou Daily the atmosphere in the US is very different from in China.

"In the US people don't think the H1N1 influenza is such a big deal. There is no need to be stressed out. But prevention measures are necessary."