FACED with an outbreak of meningitis in some provinces since late January, local health bureau officials have said the city¡¯s disease prevention system is on full alert and locals should not be overly worried about the disease.

¡°So far there have not been any group C bacterial meningitis cases reported in Shanghai,?Song Guofan, spokesman of the Shanghai Health Bureau, told the Shanghai Star.

¡°The incidence of respiratory diseases has remained at a normal and stable level, comparable to previous years.?

The city has built up a strong prevention and control system, with around 45 surveillance spots as well as fever-patient receiving centres in 150 hospitals around the city.

¡°Once a meningitis patient is sent to a local hospital, the hospital immediately calls the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) which then gathers an expert team to analyze the case,?said Zhang Zhiyong, director of the centre.

However, locals are advised to take further preventative measures. Since the outbreak of meningitis is caused by a new type of bacteria, vaccines people have received previously may not help protect them against the infection.

(Star News)