Second wave of H1N1 infections hits China

China is experiencing a second round of H1N1 flu infection.

Recent infections are more widespread and are increasing rapidly, said Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

China has reported two deaths from H1N1 influenza - an 18-year-old woman in Tibet who died on Oct 4 and a 43-year-old woman who died last Friday in Xining, capital of Northwest China's Qinghai province.

Zeng said as seasons change, H1N1 infections slow in the southern hemisphere, while they rocket in the northern hemisphere.

The number of H1N1 cases reported daily now equals the number of cases reported during 10 days of last month, he said.

The Chinese mainland had reported more than 26,300 cases of H1N1 influenza as of last Friday. About 86 percent have already recovered.

More than 17,000 of the cases were reported in September alone. H1N1 infections are spreading to small and medium-sized cities, as well as central and west China, Zeng said.

He said the fight against H1N1 should shift from preventing imported H1N1 cases to strengthening the response capabilities of small cities in less-developed regions. Zeng is concerned that if there are too many critical cases in one region, hospitals will not be able to provide sufficient care.

An epidemiological study directed by Zeng shows airborne particles of saliva are the prime suspect for H1N1 infection, while no evidence exists to show the air itself can spread the virus.

He said people do not need to wear thick masks or sterilize the air. They should wash their hands and change clothes frequently, cover their mouth and nose when sneezing, and avoid close face-to-face conversations (the safe distance is two meters between two people).

So far, more than 300,000 people have been vaccinated against H1N1, with 150 showing adverse reactions, including local swelling and pain, fever, vomiting and fatigue.

The Beijing Health Bureau said free vaccination of all the primary and middle school students will begin today.

"Most of the reported adverse drug reactions were mild," said Health Ministry spokesman Deng Haihua. "Generally speaking, our inoculations have been successful."

As of Friday, 17.6 million doses of the vaccine had been approved for release, the State Food and Drug Administration said. The administration has issued vaccine production licenses to eight domestic firms.