China's Ministry of Health released information Tuesday on
current public health emergencies in China, the first time the
health watchdog has provided a national summary of this kind of
data.
"The release will be made on a regular basis from now on each
month," said sources with the Ministry's information office.
Major epidemics, diseases of unknown origin, major food or
occupational poisoning cases, and other incidents which may
seriously endanger public health, including SARS and bird flu, will
be reported, the Ministry said.
The ministry recorded a total of 279 public health emergencies
in August, involving 4,128 people and leading to 202 deaths.
Infectious diseases and food poisoning were the top two killers
last month, accounting for 74 percent and 21 percent of the total
number of cases.
The health roundup release is part of a public health
contingency plan. The health ministry has been publishing monthly
reports on epidemics since February 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2006)