The Chinese Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that there is not a large-scale flu epidemic in China although the number of flu patients has been growing in some regions in the country.
China has set up flu monitoring stations in over 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, which have spotted variations of flu viruses this year, according to ministry officials.
Health departments nationwide are keeping close tabs on the spread of flu, officials said.
Flu experts warned that flu vaccines have their own limits and their effectiveness should not be exaggerated.
They also noted that serious symptoms do not necessarily indicate a patient has the flu virus, but a common cold in most cases.
The October-March period is a peak flu season in China, according to health officials.
(People's Daily January 9, 2002)
