中国网站品牌栏目（频道）
The National Influenza Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, making China the first developing country to house such an institution.
Under the coordination of the World Health Organization, the center in China is now to join four others - those in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States - in monitoring, researching and responding to outbreaks of influenza, as well as making plans to combat pandemics.
"This designation reflects the country's exceptional contribution to the global fight against influenza," said Dr Shin Young-soo, World Health Organization regional director for the Western Pacific, speaking in Beijing on Monday at a ceremony to celebrate the designation.
Chen Zhu, Chinese minister of health, said at the same event: "It's an honor for China and a great responsibility as well."
Just as the other four centers for reference and research on influenza in the world are responsible for providing training to medical personnel from other countries and regions and for issuing timely information on flu outbreaks, so will be the Chinese institution, said Shu Yuelong, who heads the center.
The centers together now make recommendations twice a year concerning the compositions of vaccines to be used during particular seasons. They also warn the public when an influenza strain with the potential of becoming a pandemic has been detected.
Shu said the centers are cooperating with agencies like the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration to draft standards meant to control the quality of seed virus strains provided to other countries for the manufacture of flu vaccines.
By housing a center for reference and research on influenza, China has made progress toward its goal. China now monitors flu cases in all of its large cities and in some counties on the mainland.
Questions:
1. What does WHO stand for?
2. Name one of the other four countries in the WHO program?
3. What is the name of the Chinese minister of health?
Answers:
1. World Health Organization.
2. Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, United States.
3. Chen Zhu.
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.
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