Chinese vice PM stresses coordinated efforts to prevent, control H7N9

 Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Sunday called for coordinated efforts to prevent and control H7N9 avian flu. Local departments at all levels should keep on high alert on H7N9 cases and cooperate in prevention and control of the disease. She reiterated strengthening epidemic surveillance and early warnings on all infectious diseases, as people migrate for the Spring Festival holiday. She also urged improvements in therapy and ability of treatment at grassroots level to reduce the number of critical patients and death rates. "China will strengthen monitoring on live poultry, continue vaccine research and development, tighten international communication and cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, and publicize disease information in a timely manner," Liu said. .