China's State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has ordered strict quarantine checks of passengers from the African nations of Burkina Faso and Nigeria to prevent epidemic meningitis entering the country.

According to the World Health Organization, by March 21, the Health Ministry of Burkina Faso had reported 2,783 epidemic meningitis patients in the country, 527 of whom had already died, and the Health Ministry of Nigeria had reported 327 patients, 46 of whom had died.

The administration circular urges quarantine departments to strictly check the body temperatures of people from the two African countries, and take immediate preventive measures if any suspected patient was found.

The circular also requires people from the two countries, if displaying typical symptoms of the disease, such as fever, headache and nausea, to report to the Chinese quarantine departments.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)