A leading expert warns A/H1N1 influenza is spreading to medium and small cities as the autumn school semester gets under way in China.

A growing number of recent flu cases in middle and primary schools in medium and small cities and the western parts of China indicated the spread of the A/H1N1 virus, Zeng Guang, a leading epidemiology expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was quoted as saying by Tuesday's People's Daily.

"And the flu may spread from schools to factories and companies and places thronging with people," said Zeng.

The northwestern Shaanxi Province reported another 11 students diagnosed with A/H1N1 influenza at the Xi'an University of Arts and Science Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases on the campus to 40.

Similar outbreaks have been reported at schools in other regions, including Fujian, Shandong, Henan and Sichuan provinces.

The Chinese mainland reported its first critical case of A/H1N1flu on Aug. 13 in the southern province of Guangdong. Similar cases were found in Shanghai Municipality and Zhejiang Province.

China has vowed to strengthen prevention and control of the A/H1N1 virus in the run-up to National Day holiday which begin on Oct. 1.

A statement released following a State Council meeting on Monday said medical staff, technical equipment and materials should be ready at any moment in case of an influenza emergency --especially around National Day.

By Monday night, 5,592 cases of A/H1N1 flu had been reported on the Chinese mainland, of whom 3,852 have recovered.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2009)