By Li Hong, People's Daily Online

If history is any guide, the possibility that a much bigger, second wave of H1N1 influenza breaks out in the upcoming fall and winter increases, posing a graver challenge to the readiness of human response. Past onslaught of similar killing virus which left tens of thousands perished serves a clear reminder.

Currently, the fact the deadly flu is spreading at a faster pace in southern hemisphere where the winter flu season just began, and has left rising casualties in countries like Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, does not bode well for the northern countries, including China. That the perilous virus refuses to go and still haunts us tells the global threat from new pathogens will not disappear any time soon.

Frequent breakouts of the flu in China, especially among students' summer camps and other gatherings, have prompted the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to order halting student concentration activities during the vacation. Now, there are fresh reports of steady new infections every day, though, luckily, China hasn't reported a death case caused by the influenza or its complications.

There is a chance that the H1N1 epidemic will sweep through swaths of provinces and cities before a vaccine is ready, causing serious illness and many deaths here. Hence, it is imperative for the government to propel medical engineers to hasten their research and testing of a vaccine. Only a viable inoculation campaign nationwide could effectively blunt the assault of the infectious virus.

Since young people have been proved to be particularly vulnerable to the flu, measures must be taken to ensure transmissions between them be curbed. Perhaps because school children are not always vigilant about covering their noses and mouths while coughing or sneezing, schools should rev up awareness among them to promote personal hygiene and teach them coughing etiquette.

Schools can take several measures to help keep flu from spreading: Hand-washing and coughing or sneezing into the arm or a tissue should be promoted. Hand-sanitizing gel dispensers should be available throughout schools for both staff members and students. Parents could be instructed to monitor their kids for flu symptoms like cough, running nose, fever, sore throat, aches, vomiting or diarrhea. If the children are shown these symptoms, they are strongly suggested to stay at home for at least a week to prevent transmissions to more.

To guarantee the health and well being of majority of students, education authorities needs to consider closing a school if it is found with more than 10 infections. And, if an effective vaccine can be developed by early fall, it will be a good idea to vaccinate all the school children.

Fortunately, so far in China, most people infected with the H1Nz virus have had relatively mild symptoms, just like ordinary seasonal flu. However, the country cannot take chance just hoping for the best while doing little. If we fail to store adequate medicine or slack in our efforts to mete out an H1N1 vaccine before the next wave of flu season sweeps us, with an even deadly mutating virus, we could well be in trouble.

It is reported that developed countries like the United States and Canada are busy storing facemasks, ventilators and other life-saving equipment, training nurses, respiratory therapists and laboratory technicians, in case the wave arrives at an earlier date. Certainly, the government should arrange due financial support to hospitals to cope with a possibly surging number of flu patients soon.

The article represents the author's view only. It does not represent opinions of People's Daily or People's Daily Online.