National conference calls for decisive measures to fight Chikungunya fever

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday held a national conference on the prevention and treatment of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, calling for decisive measures to fight against it.

The meeting stressed that strengthened efforts should be made to assess epidemic risks, resolutely safeguard people's health, and ensure overall economic and social stability, according to a statement released on the website of the National Health Commission Wednesday.

The meeting called for monitoring and issuing early warnings concerning the disease via multiple channels to prevent its further spread and relevant imported cases.

It emphasized efforts to enhance environmental sanitation and disinfection in high-risk locations, as well as scientific and effective measures for mosquito prevention and repellent strategies.

Hospitals and health institutions are urged to strengthen quality control of relevant testing and management of outpatient and emergency services to ensure early detection and proper treatment of the disease and to minimize possible severe cases or deaths.

It also stressed sound public health education and information release to boost people's confidence in the fight.

Chikungunya fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Chikungunya virus, with clinical symptoms including fever, rashes and joint pains. The virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.

From July 20 to 26, a total of 2,940 new local cases have been reported in South China's Guangdong province. The reported cases have been mild, with no severe or fatal cases seen to date, according to the province's disease control and prevention authority on Sunday.