CHINA REPORTS FIRST DOMESTIC INFLUENZA A(H1N1) CASE

By Vincent Low Seng Guan

BEIJING, May 29 (Bernama)-- China's first domestic-infected influenza
A(H1N1) case has been detected in the southern province of Guangdong and two new
suspected cases were reported in Guangdong's Shenzhen city, its Health
Ministry said Friday.

A 24-year-old female photo studio beautician in Guangzhou, Guangdong, who
had close contact with a suspected flu patient on May 25 has been classified as
a suspected case by the ministry. The latter developed sore throat on May 24
after his return from New York, via Incheon City, South Korea. He fell ill and
was admitted to hospital on Wednesday and confirmed to be infected wth the
influenza A(H1N1) virus Friday.

The beautician could have been infected when the man and his girlfriend
visited the photo studio, where the woman works last Monday.

They were also in the same car while going for an outdoor wedding photo
session.

The beautician developed symptoms of sore throat, headache and fever on
Wednesday morning.

She was sent to hospital on Thursday and was tested positive for influenza
A(H1N1) virus by the provincial centre of disease control.

Her test result is now under cross-check by China's Centre of Disease
Control.

However, the health conditions of both patients are reported to be stable by
the ministry.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu called an emergency meeting last night and
sent a team of experts to Guangdong.

The ministry is expected to call for a national video conferencing to
discuss influenza A(H1N1) control and prevention measures this afternoon.

China's Health Ministry has also instructed the Guangdong health authority
to step up clinical care and to trace those who had been in contact with the
patient for fear of widespread domestic infection of the flu.

Meanwhile, tests conducted by the Guangdong provincial centre of
disease
on a 22-year-old American and his 21-year-old sister, who are now in
Shenzhen, have shown positive for influenza A(H1N1).

Both of them took flight CI0011 from New York to Taipei on May 17, and
flight CI0601 from Taipei to Hong Kong two days later and traveled to
Guangdong's Dongguan City, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong by car on several
occasions.

They were found to have fever while crossing the border at Shenzhen
from
Hong Kong, and were sent to hospital for treatment.

Eleven people who had close contact with the two patients were now
under
medical observation, the ministry said.
-- BERNAMA