China reports imported parasitic disease cases

BEIJING -- Imported parasitic diseases have posed a threat to Chinese people's health but are controllable and preventable, said the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

China has reported cases of several imported parasitic diseases, such as imported malaria, schistosomiasis and trypanosomosis, said Xiao Ning, an official with the center.

As the diseases are first discovered at hospitals in most cases, the center has strengthened the monitoring system of the diseases particularly at medical institutions, Xiao said.

"We have confidence in our ability to prevent and control imported parasitic diseases," he said.

It is expected that by 2020, malaria will have been eradicated and by 2030, no schistosomiasis cases will be reported, according to the Healthy China Action (2019-2030) plan made public by Chinese central authorities in July.