CHINA: Town in its far-western Qinghai province after pneumonic plague kills three people

Record ID: 1403896

  • Title: CHINA: Town in its far-western Qinghai province after pneumonic plague kills three people
  • Date: 4th August 2009
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 4, 2009) (REUTERS) WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION BEIJING OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN VIVIAN TAN TYPING ON COMPUTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION BEIJING OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN VIVIAN TAN, SAYING: "We are definitely concerned because this form of pneumonic plague is really quite lethal. And it's not very common, but it's quite lethal. So we are wa
  • Embargoed: 20th August 2009 18:13
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA89FNEESGTEFF9O6M5O7DM5Z9S
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: China has sealed off a remote far-western town of 10,000 people after three people living there died of pneumonic plague, state media said on Tuesday (August 4), as the World Health Organisation said it was monitoring the situation.
    Another nine people had contracted the disease in the ethnically Tibetan region of the sparsely populated province of Qinghai, state television CCTV said.
    "Up to 8 pm (12 GMT), August 3, there had been 12 confirmed cases of plague in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous State of Qinghai Province. There had been one more death following the two previous deaths. Nine people have been quarantined and hospitalised, one of whom is in a severe condition. Another has showed symptoms of coughing and chest pain. There has been no report of new infections," a CCTV anchor said.
    The town of Ziketan and the surrounding region had been closed off, according to the Chinese Health Ministry.
    China experiences periodic outbreaks of plague, which is typically spread by rodents and fleas, it is airborne and can spread easily between people.
    The WHO said it was closely monitoring the situation.
    "We are definitely concerned because this form of pneumonic plague is really quite lethal. And it's not very common, but it's quite lethal. So we are watching the situation closely and we are in close contact with the Ministry of Health to see what the situation is like and how we can support them if needed," said Beijing-based WHO spokeswoman Vivian Tan.
    She also said early diagnosis is the key to preventing the disease from spreading further.
    "First, there needs to be early detection and diagnosis of confirmed cases of the plague and these patients need to be treated as soon as possible. If diagnosed early and treated early, plague patients can be cured," said Tan.
    Medical staff were disinfecting the region and tracking down people who have been in close contact with those infected, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
    Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention told Reuters by telephone that all the plague-specialised experts working for the centre had been sent to Qinghai.
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