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General awareness on influenza lacking in China

03/Oct/2006: A survey conducted by the Chinese Health Education Association, has found that most of the Chinese citizens have very little knowledge on influenza and how to prevent it.

60% of the respondents surveyed in seven big cities, thought that influenza was the same as common cold and 90% of the respondents said that protective measures against this disease were unnecessary, even when family members suffer from it.

Most of the Chinese citizens continued to attend work or school, even when they had cough or fever, which are common symptoms of influenza. 70% of the respondents said that they decided to seek medical help only after two to three days of high fever. The survey, which covered 2,168 people in large cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, found that family members shared food and dinnerware, even when one of them developed flu-like symptoms.

One in eight respondents acknowledged that flu is a serious infectious disease, but 72% of the respondents were not sure whether it is compulsory to report this disease in China. The survey found that common preventive measures adopted by people against this disease were regular exercise, good ventilation, preventive medication and healthy diets.

A few of the respondents mentioned that they are vaccinated against flu. Vaccination is the most economical way of preventing flu and it costs roughly $12 to $25 to get vaccinated against flu, whereas a hospitalization for this disease costs $437 to $625.

Tang Yaowu, a doctor in the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that September to November is the best time to get inoculated against this disease, with the children and the elderly being the key inoculation groups.

A research conducted by Sanofi Pasteur, a major provider of flu vaccines in China, found that most people were afraid to get inoculated, since they believed that flu vaccines are unsafe. Sanofi Pasteur also surveyed 49 foreign and domestic companies in China, on flu preparedness and found that 60% of foreign companies in big cities had a flu response plan or were drawing one, while only 20% of domestic companies considered a flu preparedness plan.

Zeng Guang, with the national CDC said that no major flu outbreaks were reported in China in recent years, but localized outbreaks was reported in some areas. Expert fear of more flu outbreaks this year and believe that bird flu could break out along with other flu strains in winter or in spring.

Figures released by the Health ministry, show a 13% increase in the flu-incidence rate in the first quarter this year, compared to the corresponding period last year. The Chinese government is preparing 20% more flu vaccines this year, compared to last year.

K Siva

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