BEIJING (AP) — The Lunar New Year travel period in China has officials bracing for a possible new wave of swine flu infections as crowded conditions create the ideal mechanism for the virus to spread.

Photo: Jason Borg. Just under 3,000 chronic patients and pregnant women flocked to health centres yesterday to take the swine flu vaccine against the dreaded virus.

China is warning officials to brace for a possible new wave of swine flu infections as the country enters the busy Lunar New Year travel period.