Temperatures in most areas of North China, eastern parts of Northwest China, the Yellow and Haihe river basins and southern parts of Northeast China will drop by 6 to 10 C, according to the Central Meteorological Observatory.

The biggest drop could be by 10 C in some areas, meteorologists said, adding that temperatures in southern China will gradually drop by 5 to 8 C.

Medical experts warned that residents should be careful to prevent diseases which may become easier to contract with the coming cold weather.

These diseases include infectious diseases in the respiratory tract, asthma and digestive system diseases which have brought more people to hospitals in Beijing recently.

Medical experts have suggested that people, especially children and senior citizens, get vaccinated against the flu, which has entered an active period as winter begins.

(China Daily october 17, 2002)