China's top quarantine watchdog said it would take strict measures to prevent yellow fever and meningitis from sneaking into the country.

The World Health Organization has reported cases of death caused by the two epidemics in Africa, according to the State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

Yellow fever killed at least 20 people in Cote d'Ivoire by September 17 while meningitis has caused 24 deaths in Angola so far.

AQSIQ recommends that passengers heading to Cote d'Ivoire and Angola be inoculated against the two diseases.

Those who return from Cote d'Ivoire must show inoculation certificates before they can enter China. If symptoms of jaundice or fever are found, they will be isolated.

Similar measures will be followed if passengers returning from Angola show symptoms of fever, nausea, headache or vomiting.

It also will be necessary for containers and vehicles from the areas stricken by yellow fever to have certification that quarantine measures were taken to get rid of mosquitoes.

China is now establishing a pre-warning and rapid response mechanism in exit-entry quarantine.

Relevant regulations have been approved and will take effect on November 15.

(Chinadaily 09/28/2001)