Zambian local gov't bans gathering amid flu concern

LUSAKA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's Luanshya district, a famous mine area in its Copperbelt province, has been forced to ban weddings, former miners re-engagement program and other social gatherings as a way of thwarting the spread of the A/H1N1 flu, the Times of Zambia reported on Saturday.

Luanshya has recorded more than 630 suspected A/H1N1 flu cases, the country's most over the past four days, the report said.

Luanshya District Commissioner (DC) George Kapu told the newspaper that 33 out of the 64 patients were discharged on Thursday from the flu treatment center based at the Luanshya Mine Clinic in New Town.

He said following the advice from health authorities, weddings and all public gatherings in the flu-like disease affected townships have been banned with immediate effect.

The Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) and Luanshya District administration authorities have temporarily suspended the ex-miners re-engagement program as a measure aimed at averting the further spreading of the suspected A/H1N1 flu.

The new owner of the LCM, China Non Ferrous Metal Company (CNMC), confirmed to Xinhua the development in the company.

The public relations officer of LCM, Sydney Chileya, said the decision to temporarily suspend the miners' re-engagement program, which will bring together ex-miners on large scale, was based on health authorities' advice after the outbreak of flu like disease in the mining town.