JimO
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Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gS-ZM7yrHf0j9otf0_eMG7JqX0wQ
China swine flu toll soars past 400: ministry
(AFP) ? 16 hours ago
BEIJING ? China's swine flu death toll has leapt by more than a third in recent days to 442, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
The sharp rise came days after the government warned of a holiday-season spike in infections.
Of the total deaths, 116 were reported in the week of December 7 to 13, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
The total number of A(H1N1) influenza cases totalled nearly 108,000, it said.
On Friday, China pledged to step up a swine flu vaccination programme that has seen more than 34 million people jabbed, warning of heightened risks in the upcoming holiday season, particularly the Lunar New Year in February.
Each year hundreds of millions of people swamp the nation's road and rail network and airport to return home for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which is the nation's biggest and most important holiday.
Health ministry officials have said having so many people travelling together in close proximity could lead to increased transmission of the virus.
China swine flu toll soars past 400: ministry
(AFP) ? 16 hours ago
BEIJING ? China's swine flu death toll has leapt by more than a third in recent days to 442, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
The sharp rise came days after the government warned of a holiday-season spike in infections.
Of the total deaths, 116 were reported in the week of December 7 to 13, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
The total number of A(H1N1) influenza cases totalled nearly 108,000, it said.
On Friday, China pledged to step up a swine flu vaccination programme that has seen more than 34 million people jabbed, warning of heightened risks in the upcoming holiday season, particularly the Lunar New Year in February.
Each year hundreds of millions of people swamp the nation's road and rail network and airport to return home for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which is the nation's biggest and most important holiday.
Health ministry officials have said having so many people travelling together in close proximity could lead to increased transmission of the virus.