China has quarantined a group of Canadian university students for a
week, as part of efforts to fight swine flu. This follows recent
Chinese government detentions of Mexican citizens throughout the
country.
The 25 Canadian university students were beginning a language program in northeastern China.
Foreign
Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu says the Jilin provincial government is
keeping the students under medical observation for seven days in a
hotel in Changchun city.
Ma says these students have normal
body temperatures and are in good physical and emotional conditions,
and are in his words "satisfied with this arrangement."
Across
China, authorities are detaining citizens from several different
countries as part of efforts to fight the H1N1 influenza virus,
commonly known as swine flu.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said
four Americans were quarantined in China due to swine flu concerns, but
two have already been released.
Meanwhile, a chartered plane
from Mexico began collecting 70 Mexican citizens being held in
Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
In addition, 200
Chinese citizens have been stranded in Mexico City and Tijuana after
China suspended flights in and out of Mexico. A China Southern
Airlines jet has been sent to pick up those travelers.
Spokesman Ma says China and Mexico have kept close communication and contact on the issue of swine flu.
Ma says the two countries are working hand-in-hand to address this disease and further promote bilateral relations.
But
Mexican diplomats have complained many Mexicans detained were not at
risk for flu and were held simply because of their citizenship.
China
also suspended the importation of pigs and pig products from parts of
Mexico, Canada and the United States. Ma says the temporary measure is
meant to protect domestic animal husbandry and people's health.
But
four global organizations, including the United Nations and the World
Health Organization, say there is no justification for bans on the
importation of pigs or their products. They said as long as pork is
handled properly it will not be a source of infection.
