Shanghai is claiming to be the first municipality in China to set up an early warning system to help prevent bacterial food poisoning.

The system will be put into trial operation in April 2009 and will be launched formally during the Shanghai 2010 Expo.

Studies show that bacterial food poisoning accounts for over three quarters of the total food poisoning cases in Shanghai and the period from June to September is the peak season for bacterial food poisoning. The studies also show that the average temperature and relative humidity of the day before a food poisoning outbreak occurs are significant.

By studying the relation between bacterial food poisoning and the weather conditions and based on the probability of bacterial food poisoning occurring, a classified early warning system will be set up to offer forecast report on the likelihood of bacterial food poisoning in the next three days.

Under the early warning standards, Class 1 means high risk weather conditions and a high probability of bacterial food poisoning, and Class 2 represents medium risk weather condition and means there will a possibly of bacterial food poisoning.

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