Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for improved entry-exit inspection and quarantine of swine flu cases, and accelerating research on a diagnostic reagent to test for the virus.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (C) visits a laboratory of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, capital of China, on April 29, 2009. Li visited the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Capital International Airport in Beijing to inspect the operations of swine flu prevention on April 29. [Xinhua]

All government departments must make public health a priority and maintain steady social order, Li said during a visit to the Beijing Capital International Airport and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Li said China had no confirmed cases of swine flu, but the virus could still spread to China as the outbreak was worsening in some other countries.

Entry-exit authorities must step up inspection and quarantine by conducting strict medical examinations of people traveling from areas with swine flu cases, and sterilize goods and transport thoroughly, to keep the virus from entering China, he said.

Li also urged disease prevention experts at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a diagnostic reagent for use in testing for the virus as soon as possible.

An effective surveillance and reporting system was the basis for the prevention of swine flu, so that people suspected to be infected could be "located, reported, quarantined and treated as soon as possible," Li said.

He also urged local authorities to increase production of anti-flu medications, protective gauze masks, sterilization drugs, and respiratory machines, and enhance public education on swine flu.

Officials should closely monitor the global situation, and take prompt and comprehensive measures to deal with the virus in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries, he said.

Swine flu is suspected of causing the death of 159 people in Mexico. The United States confirmed Wednesday that a 23-month-old child in Texas had died from the virus.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)