Beijing health authorities have fired off more than 1 million text messages to fight rumours of a cholera outbreak in the city.

Text messages have been circulating recently, urging people "do not eat freshwater fish to prevent cholera," Xinhua News Agency reported. Beijing Health Bureau (BJHB) then decided to send messages of their own, offering reassurances that there were no cholera concerns in the city so residents should not panic.

"Currently aquatic products in the capital's markets are under strict surveillance by food security and epidemic prevention departments," said Zhao Tao, director of the epidemic prevention and control department of BJHB.

"Every week, these departments carry out random inspections of aquatic products, especially those that easily cause diarrhoea. If products are unqualified, they will be destroyed in a proper way. Up to now, no cholera bacteria have been found in Beijing."

But Zhao also reminded Beijingers to pay attention to food safety during the hot summer months.

According to Beijing's emergency plan for cholera, more than 300 major hospitals in Beijing have opened intestine and stomach departments. Patients suffering from diarrhoea all receive an examination for cholera bacteria.

(China Daily August 28, 2006)