Choppers ready to swoop at Shanghai Expo

SHANGHAI - Local health authorities are beefing up efforts to ensure a healthy Expo by adding emergency medical services and minimizing the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases during the six-month event.

A rescue helicopter lands at Ruijin Hospital during a trial flight last week. [Provided to China Daily]

Expo spans three seasons in Shanghai and could see over 100 million tourists swamp the city from all over China and the world.

"In response to any possible threat, the Health Bureau has made a detailed working plan," Xu Jianguang, director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, said recently.

"We have focused on a variety of infectious diseases that may occur in other parts of the world during the period. Each disease has been analyzed in detail."

He said the monitoring of visitors will be detailed enough to stamp out any threats if they emerge.

"Once any symptoms are detected among Expo visitors, we'll be able to find out very quickly where that person came from and what disease they are likely to be suffering from. Our doctors can then provide treatment immediately."

Expo organizers have assembled a panel to make risk assessment reports on high- and low-risk infections from May 1 to Oct. 31. The reports will be compiled into a textbook that will be handed out to public health specialists and medical staff at Expo garden.

"Some infectious diseases are seldom seen in Asian countries, especially those from North America and Africa," said Xu. "We must ask medical staff to commit to learning all about them so we can treat patients at an early stage."

Expo 2010 Shanghai will likely be the largest World Expo ever held. Estimates suggest that 70 million visitors, including millions from overseas, will attend. But some foreign Expo officials now believe the final figure could be much higher. The Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau has announced a comprehensive emergency medical network and transportation system on road, water and in the air to tend to patients until the end of Expo.

There were trial helicopter flights in Shanghai last week, with rehearsal rescues of patients in life-threatening conditions playing out at Ruijin Hospital, one of seven designated for Expo.

"Saving time, saving lives. That's why helicopters really shine," said Lu Yiming, a doctor at the hospital's emergency department.

"In many developed countries, it is commonplace to see a helicopter landing at the scene of an accident, but in China helicopter use for medical missions is very rare," he said.

Twelve specialized emergency teams from Ruijin Hospital will be on standby.