Hospitals across Beijing have been deluged by masses of children
and young people who have been laid low by colds and flu.
Though cases of flu virus did turn in up in two districts in the
capital, experts said it was not a large-scale outbreak of
influenza.
Sources at the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Prevention
and Control said 8 percent of the patients in hospital had been
infected by influenza, which was normal compared with the same
period in previous years.
Experts said local residents need not worry too much because
this year's flu virus was similar to those of years past. Community
hospitals are able to cope with this year's cases.
Disease prevention and control authorities are monitoring
variations and transmission of the flu virus, sources said.
Sources with the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Station linked
the outbreak of colds with the warm weather in mid-December.
The Beijing Children's Hospital has received over 7,000 patients
every day this winter. Among the patients, more than 60 percent
have infections of the upper respiratory tract, as well as fevers,
coughs and sore throats.
"There have been more cold patients this winter than in any year
of the past 20," Geng Rong, director of the hospital's emergency
treatment department, told the China Central Television. Geng said
the number of cases has been fairly constant since late last
month.
Other hospitals with pediatrics departments have faced similar
challenges.
Sources at the Armed Police General Hospital said the hospital
had received 150 percent more children with colds during the past
week compared with the same period last year.
Ding Deping, director of the Beijing Municipal Meteorological
Station, attributed the large number of cold cases to the
unseasonably warm weather early last month.
(China Daily January 8, 2007)