China faces infectious disease control challenge

China is facing challenges of preventing and controlling infectious diseases due to a rise of emerging infections and mass migration, a senior health official said Wednesday.

Threats of traditional infectious diseases remain while new ones are emerging continuously. China has been hit by one emerging infectious disease every one or two years over the past 10 years, said Li Bin, head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

New types of infectious diseases to hit China include H7N9 bird flu and H1N1 influenza.

Due to difficulties in detection, diagnosis and treatment, emerging infectious diseases could cause high death rates in their early stages, Li said while reporting on the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases to the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Mass migration in the country and personnel exchanges for international trade have also led to difficulties in disease prevention and control. About 91 percent of malaria cases were imported, he said.

Li urged for more controls over resources and prevention efforts for vulnerable groups.

Staff skills and the infrastructure in local health agencies need to be improved, especially in border areas as well as at schools and kindergartens, he said.

The government will improve monitoring and warning systems to ensure early discovery, diagnosis, reporting and treatment. More efforts will be made to combat diseases including AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis B, Li said.

He called on the public to help build a clean environment and promote legal and medical information. Non-governmental organizations are also encouraged to participate in the drive to curb infectious diseases.

The bimonthly session of the standing committee runs from Monday to Friday.