The Chinese Ministry of Health on Monday urged localities to strengthen prevention and control of cholera, warning the incidence of the infectious disease might rise this year.

The incidence of cholera in 2005 increased 298 percent over 2004 after dropping in the previous three consecutive years, said the ministry in a notice released on its Website.

Most of the cases contracted by dining in inland rural areas, unsanitary coastal food stalls and eating raw seafood, it said.

More cases might occur this year and the situation is severe, the ministry quoted experts as saying.

The notice requires local health authorities to strengthen screening and reporting of cholera cases and discharge of patients with intestinal illness, meanwhile tighten the surveillance on catering staff, schools, habitats of migrant people and construction sites as well as seafood market inspections.

Timely epidemiological research and effective control measures must be taken when new cholera cases are discovered, and stockpile of medicines and vaccines should be prepared, the notice said.

Source: Xinhua