China's health ministry protests ungrounded swine flu reports

Special Report: World Tackles Swine Flu

BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) said Wednesday
that China "strongly opposes" the contents of overseas media reports on the
country's swine flu situation, which were made "regardless of truth and
scientific common sense."

MOH spokesman Mao Qun'an told Xinhua that some overseas media reports
claimed the source of the current swine flu epidemic was in China. He did not
specify any particular stories or organizations.

Mao said the government had been vigilant after the disease broke out in
the United States and Mexico.

"No human cases have been found in China, nor has the virus been found in
the country's pigs," he said.

He added that several government departments had taken coordinated
prevention efforts.

He said China would work with the World Health Organization and governments
of the countries affected by the outbreak.

"Getting through the epidemic is our common goal. We are glad to offer as
much support and assistance as we can" to the affected areas, he said.