China to Increase Specialized Teams for Future Outbreaks
China plans to significantly expand its response capabilities for future infectious disease outbreaks. The country will increase the number of specialized teams tasked with handling such emergencies from five to 25. This announcement was made by Wang Hesheng, a director at the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, during the annual session of China's parliament.
In addition to expanding its specialized teams, China will also focus on improving early warning systems and relevant legal frameworks. Wang acknowledged the difficulty of completely avoiding pathogens with epidemic potential, but emphasized the importance of preventing pandemics.
The country has also been working on revising its laws on infectious disease prevention, control, and quarantine. These revisions have undergone initial reviews and are expected to be finalized soon.
The announcement comes as China celebrates its success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Li Qiang's work report highlighted the country's "major, decisive victory" in the fight against the virus.
5 Comments
MrNobody
Investing in better training and equipment for these specialized teams will ensure their readiness and effectiveness during outbreaks.
Noir Black
Focusing solely on specialized teams might neglect the importance of educating and empowering the general public on disease prevention.
Eugene Alta
Will these teams have the resources and expertise needed to handle diverse outbreaks effectively?
BuggaBoom
China's history of secrecy and lack of transparency during the pandemic makes me skeptical about their true intentions behind this initiative.
Loubianka
Will these teams have the freedom to operate independently and report outbreaks without fear of censorship?