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BEIJING - Chinese quarantine measures aimed at curbing the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) are in line with steps taken worldwide, the World Health Organisation's China representative said Monday.
The comments by Hans Troedsson came amid a diplomatic spat over China's week-long isolation of 70 Mexican nationals, which Mexico's foreign minister has called "unjustified."
"There are other countries that are taking similar action like China, so I don't think China is standing out in this respect," Troedsson told AFP in an interview.
He said the UN health body's recommended that countries "take measures to try to prevent the spread" of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
"There are many different measures, and quarantine is one of them."
However, whereas quarantine in other countries typically involved people who showed sign of having the virus, Mexican officials have complained their countrymen were being singled out despite showing no symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1).
The Mexican embassy in Beijing said many had arrived on planes from the United States, not Mexico, and were quarantined solely because of their nationality.
The virus is believed to have originated in Mexico. It has killed a reported 23 people worldwide, 22 of those in Mexico, according to Mexican and WHO figures.
A Mexican embassy official told AFP Monday there were nearly 70 Mexicans quarantined across China, including in Beijing, Shanghai and the southern city of Guangzhou.
China's tough measures also have been under the spotlight in Hong Kong, where 300 guests and staff of a hotel have been quarantined after a Mexican guest Friday became Asia's first confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1).
Troedsson said China had learned to act aggressively, which he supported, following its experiences with the SARS crisis of 2003 that sparked criticism of Beijing's slow response.
China initially tried to deny the existence of an outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and owned up only after it spilled over into other countries.
- AFP/ir
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