Flu patients receive transfusion in a hospital in Shanghai in March. [Photo/IC] China has entered the peak flu season, but the prevalence of the disease will be lower than last year, China's top health authority said on Friday. Flu outbreaks will gradually decrease due to reduced chances of infection with schools and infant nurseries closing for the winter vacation, the National Health Commission said. Prevalence of the flu is still rising in southern regions, but at a slower rate, while prevalence remains stable in the north, Lei Zhenglong, deputy chief for disease control and prevention at the commission, said at a news conference. Following last winter's serious flu outbreaks, the worst in recent years, health authorities intensified monitoring outbreaks and efforts for disease prevention and control this year. The National Health Commission has worked with several other departments to carry out measures such as improving sterilization and ventilation at key spots such as schools, railway stations and airports to minimize risks of flu outbreaks, Lei said. Following a shortage in the supply of flu vaccines in some parts of China last fall, health authorities increased purchasing and now can meet demand, he said. Health authorities across China have bought more than 14 million doses of flu vaccines, and nearly 11 million of them have been used, he said. Li Zhongjie, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said nationwide monitoring shows H1N1 is the major virus in circulation this winter, and the flu vaccines available are effective in preventing the virus. Seasonal flu usually peaks in winter and spring in most parts of China, and it is a common disease, he said. But certain groups who have higher risks of complications should pay particular attention to prevent flu, including children under 5 years old, elderly above 65 years old, the pregnant, and people with chronic diseases including respiratory diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Catching the flu is more likely in enclosed places, including office buildings, and good hygiene practices such as hand washing can help prevent infection, he said. Guo Yanhong, deputy chief for medical administration and supervision at the National Health Commission, said with the arrival of the traditional Chinese New Year, a most important festival for family reunion and gatherings, medical institutions will also remain on duty. We have ordered local health authorities and medical institutions to assign staff to be on 24-hour duty every day during the holiday, to ensure people have a happy and healthy Spring Festival, she said. silicone wristbands canadawristbands for eventsrubber band bracelets
BEIJING -- As the situation on the Korean Peninsula began to embrace a spring thaw, all parties concerned have called for reciprocating the de-escalation and help ease tensions.On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said we expect a smooth DPRK-South Korea summit and DPRK-U.S. dialogue, while meeting with Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Beijing, who came to brief Xi on his recent visits to the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and the United States.As a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, China always supports South Korea and the DPRK in improving ties and promoting reconciliation and cooperation, Xi said.China also supports the United States and the DPRK to begin dialogue and resolve their concerns through negotiation, Xi said.He pointed out that China remains persistent in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and maintaining its peace and stability.At present, the situation on the Korean Peninsula faces an important opportunity to ease tension via dialogue, Xi said, noting that China spoke highly of the South Korean efforts and is willing to work with the international community to promote the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue, combining China's dual-track approach with helpful proposals from all sides.Xi called on all sides to be patient and cautious, and to exercise their political wisdom to properly deal with the various issues and disturbances while resuming negotiations.As long as all parties can focus on the fundamental goal of denuclearization, peace and stability, the Korean Peninsula will finally usher in the spring, when ice will thaw and flowers will boom, Xi said.U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the deal with the DPRK is very much in the making and will be good for the world.Trump has accepted the DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un's willingness to hold a DPRK-U.S. summit, saying he would meet with Kim by May to achieve a permanent denuclearization.Over a phone conversation with President Xi on Friday, Trump said the nuclear issue has shown positive development recently, adding that a high-level meeting between the United States and the DPRK meets the interests of all parties, hoping for an eventually peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.It has been proved that Xi was correct to insist on a dialogue between the United States and the DPRK, Trump said, adding that the U.S. side highly appreciates and values China's significant role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China over the issue.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed Tuesday a willingness to explore the possibility of a summit between him and the DPRK top leader, while meeting with Suh Hoon, director of the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS), who paid the visit to Japan to explain the result of visits to Pyongyang and Washington.Japan and the DPRK can discuss at their summit on the abduction issue and the normalization of bilateral ties, while the nuclear and missile issue will be discussed at a summit between Kim and Trump, Japan's Kyodo News reported.Russia consistently supports steps toward lowering the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and abandoning confrontational rhetoric, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday at a meeting with visiting South Korean special presidential envoy Chung.Lavrov stressed that Russia welcomes Seoul's desire to build a broad front of participants in the settlement process on the Korean Peninsula.Moon, the South Korean president, said on Monday that a precious opportunity was created to open a door to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, a permanent peace regime and co-prosperity of the two Koreas.If the opportunity was successfully taken, a dramatic change will be recorded in world history, Moon noted.Signs of further detente on the Korean Peninsula were detected as Kim made a tension-easing gesture during the high-level South Korean delegation's two-day visit to Pyongyang. For the first time since he assumed power, Kim personally hosted a dinner for the delegation.Before that, the DPRK sent athletes to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and held talks with South Korea.
