The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in Beijing Tuesday that it
will publicize notifiable disease information and public health
emergencies from 2004.
A document released by the ministry on Tuesday said the
information to be publicized will include the occurrence and spread
of notifiable diseases as well as precautionary measures. The
ministry will also send out health warnings when necessary.
The 27 notifiable diseases covered by the report system are
specified in China's 1989 law on the prevention and control of
communicable diseases, and include the plague, cholera, AIDS and
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The ministry will also publicize information on public health
emergencies, including the number of people infected, cause of the
emergency, and preventative and control measures.
The public can access the ministry's official announcements on
its website. The ministry is obliged keep the public informed of
the latest information during serious public health disasters.
Authorized by the health ministry, provincial health authorities
will also publicize disease information and public health disasters
from 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2003)