Wang Guoqiang, vice-minister of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission has pointed out that frequent contacts with the Middle East and South Korea have increased the risk of bringing the MERS virus to China.

Wang made the comment during a visit to Guangdong province, June 11 to 12, where he also said, “Health departments at all levels need to cooperate more in preventing the spread of MERS cases.”

He also asked Guangdong departments involved in dealing with the disease to strengthen port quarantine procedures and publicity on the disease and possibly find a way to use Traditional Chinese Medicine in preventing a MERS outbreak.