China has asked tourists from the United States to immediately inform inspection and quarantine authorities of symptoms of fever, headaches, rashes and swollen glands on entry to the country.

The State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced the public health measure to prevent the mosquito-borne West Nile virus from entering China.

By Aug. 11, the United States had recorded 197 cases of human West Nile with five deaths, according to figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Chinese inspection and quarantine authorities are required to carry out strict quarantine checks, including body temperature, on tourists from the United States, and to inspect vehicles and containers from infected areas.

No specific medicine or bacterin has been developed against the virus, and the announcement has reminded tourists going to infected areas to take preventive measures against mosquito bites.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2003)