The Chinese Ministry of Health on Wednesday urged that measures to prevent and control encephalitis B be stepped up all over the country, after an outbreak in a northern city killed 19 people.

The ministry instructed local health authorities to launch a mass campaign to eradicate mosquitoes and raise public awareness about prevention.

Places where livestock are kept must undergo strict mosquito controls to cut off infection channels. People should avoid staying overnight in the open air in places where mosquitoes gather and take protective measures like using window screens and mosquito repellent.

People who develop symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and sleepiness after being bitten by mosquitoes must go to hospital without delay, said the ministry.

It said that vaccination is critical to controlling encephalitis B. Provinces must step up child vaccination and provinces where outbreaks have been reported must carry out emergency vaccinations.

It also required timely reporting of suspected or confirmed encephalitis B cases and urged that epidemiological research be carried out in outbreak-hit areas.

Surveillance and early warning measures for the disease must be properly carried out, it added.

Health authorities at all levels are responsible for supervising the control of encephalitis B and ensuring that all necessary measures are correctly implemented, according to the ministry.

Encephalitis B causes an inflammation of the brain and can be contracted by people of all ages. It is usually the result of a viral infection transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The illness begins with flu-like symptoms and severe headaches.

An outbreak of encephalitis B in Yuncheng City in north China's Shanxi Province had infected 65 people as of Monday, of whom 19 have died.

Source: Xinhua