China will launch a nationwide epidemiological investigation of A/H1N1 influenza next year in a bid to provide more scientific data for further prevention and control measures.

According to a circular released by the Ministry of Health Wednesday, the research will be focused on 12 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions including Beijing, Shandong and Henan. A total of 54,000 people -- 4,500 for each province -- will be surveyed.

The research will be carried out in three time periods: next January, from March to April and from August to September.

Experts with the ministry said that currently a large number of patients only have slight flu symptoms and many potential infection cases exist, which means the official number of flu cases can no longer reflect the actual epidemic situation in the country.

According to the experts, the country is in urgent need of understanding the infection level in different age groups in different time periods in order to map out further prevention and control plan.

Also, a serum epidemiological investigation will be launched next year across the country, sampling 400 people for each of the 31 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

In addition, the ministry urges related organizations to strengthen the prevention and control of the disease around the New Year holiday when migrant workers and students -- the most vulnerable groups -- tend to travel home in large numbers.

Educational departments are required to strengthen the education of epidemic prevention among students ahead of the holidays and take good care of those who stay in school.

Also, the ministry urges government organizations at all levels to ensure the stock of drugs and medical equipment and report any flu-related emergency as soon as possible.

Statistics from the ministry show that, from Dec. 21 to 27, a total of 4,448 new flu cases were reported across the country.