China steps up MERS alert
中國提高MERS疫情預警級別

Facing a potential threat from MERS, China has increased its alerts and exercised several prevention measures.

Chinese health authorities have warned against the risk of imported cases with the approach of the annual pilgrimage of Chinese citizens to Saudi Arabia, where the MERS virus was first discovered.

More than 14,000 Chinese pilgrims went to Mecca last autumn. Authorities required people from countries or regions with MERS outbreaks to report to quarantine authorities if they are experiencing fever, coughing or having breathing difficulties.

And medical institutions are ordered to strengthen monitoring of fever and pneumonia cases with unidentified causes in order to diagnose and isolate MERS patients as soon as possible.

Some airline companies are also cutting flights to South Korea, as travel demand to the country has dropped over MERS fear. Air China has cut the number of flights linking Beijing and Seoul to 21 a week from 24. The cut runs from Saturday to the end of August.