China to establish epidemic reporting system

cctv.com 12-12-2003 16:04

An epidemic reporting system will be put into place nationwide. This was determined recently by the issue of new regulations on the management of public health emergencies and epidemics. The country's Health Ministry released the regulations on Friday morning.

The Health Ministry now requires that disease prevention centers around the country establish health emergency reporting and analyzing systems. Disaster prevention centers will report their monitoring results to the provincial health authorities three times a month. In case of emergency, daily reporting is required and the provincial health authority will release the information to the public in time. The reporting includes the description of the disease, the causes, the scope of affected areas and people, and the measures taken.

Spokesman of Health Ministry Ma Qunan said:"Once epidemic happens, we will inform the public in time. It will act significantly to mobilize the public to prevent the epidemic and raise people's awareness of the disease."

The SARS epidemic early this year posed great challenges to the current public health network. The Health Ministry hopes the latest move will improve its efficiency and speed of response.

Editor:Su  Source:CCTV.com