The battle to stop the A(H1N1) influenza strain from spreading will become even more important in the autumn than it is today, says a top Chinese expert.

Despite the current slowdown in the spread of the virus, Qiang Zhengfu, director of the international department of the China Center for Disease Control (CDC), said people must not lower their guard in the months to come.

"We are worried about the autumn," said Qiang, who explained that flu viruses tend to be short-lived in hot seasons but stronger and more of a threat in cooler months.