A prominent Chinese epidemiologist has highlighted the role of local medical centers in combating the A/H1N1 virus on the mainland. Zhong Nanshan says the most efficient way to prevent the spread of the virus is for people to visit community clinics when they first develop flu symptoms.

Visiting local clinics in the southern city of Guangzhou on Tuesday, Zhong Nanshan called for an intensification of preventive efforts against the A/H1N1 virus at community levels.

Zhong is deemed by many as a national hero for his role in helping the country conquer the deadly SARS in 2003.

Now A/H1N1 is another test facing the entire country.

The epidemiologist says that in Guangzhou alone, around 90 percent of flu patients have the A/H1N1 virus. He says it's more convenient for patients to go to local medical centers for treatment than to converge on large hospitals.

Zhong said, "Community medical centers are on the frontline of the prevention work against the A/H1N1 virus. Here, we can conduct early treatment to prevent widespread infection of the virus."

Zhong also points out the A/H1N1 virus is especially risky for pregnant women. He cited statistics that among the more than two-hundred A/H1N1 deaths on the mainland, 80 percent have been mothers-to-be.

Zhong said, "Medical treatment becomes difficult and complicated if a pregnant woman develops severe A/H1N1 flu symptoms. So it's important to treat pregnant woman with A/H1N1 flu symptoms as early as possible."

The academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering also suggests prompt use of Tamiflu.

Zhong says community medical services should use the drug on those with severe symptoms as early as possible.

He says there is enough Tamiflu in China to treat 26-million people.