1) A yellow
fever vaccination certificate is a requirement for all
travellers arriving within 6 days of departing an infected area.
2) Following gudelines issued by WHO in 1973, a cholera
vaccination certificate is not a requirement for entry into China.
However, cholera is a slight risk and precautions should be considered.
Current advice should be sought prior to deciding whether or not
to receive a vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its
effectiveness. For further details, read the Health appendix. A
strain of Bengal cholera was reported in western areas.
3) Reliable data has shown that Poliovirus transmission
has been been entirely interrupted since1994 through successful
eradication programmes.
4) Malaria risk exists all over the country below
1,500 metres except in Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Qinghai, Heilongjiang,
Gansu, Jilin, Ningxia, Shanxi, Tibet (Xizang, except in the Zangbo
River Valley in the extreme southeast) and Xinjiang (except in the
Yili River Valley).
North of 33°N, the risk begins in July and lasts until November,
between 33°N and 25°N between May and December, and south
of 25°N throughout the year. The disease occurs mainly in the
benign vivax form but the malignant falciparum form is also evident
and has been said to be multidrug-resistant. The advised prophylaxis
in risk areas is chloroquine, or mefloquine in Hainan and Yunnan.
Food & drink
Outside main centres all water used for drinking, brushing teeth
or freezing should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only
eat well-done meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad
and mayonnaise can possibly carry increased risk. Fruit should be
peeled and vegetables cooked.
Additional
risks
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)
is endemic in the central Yangtze river basin. Do not swim or padde
in fresh water; Chlorinated swimming pools that are well maintained
are safe.
Hepatitis E exists in northeastern and northwestern China
and hepatitis A is common throughout the country.
Hepatitis B is highly endemic.
Tuberculosis
is common in indigenous people. Some risk ofplague
is present .
Oriental liver fluke (clonorchiasis), oriental
lung fluke (paragonimiasis) and giant intestinal
fluke (fasciolopsiasis) have been reported, and brucellosis
also occurs.
Bancroftian and brugian filariasis
is reported in southern China, visceral leishmaniasis
is increasingly common all over, and cutaneous leishmaniasis
has been reported from Xinjiang.
Haemorrhagic
fever with renal syndrome is endemic.
Precautions are recommended against Japanese encephalitis,
especially in rural areas.
Mite-borne or scrub typhus may be present
in scrub areas of southern China.
Altitude sickness can be a problem in parts of Gansu, Sichuan,
Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet and Yannan.
Rabies
is present, however the Government's policy bans dogs and cats from
main cities, therefore makes this less of a risk in these areas.
For those at high risk, vaccination prior to arrival is recommended.
If you are bitten, seek medical attention without delay. For additional
information, consult the Health appendix.
Health
care
Medical costs are low. Many
medicines common in the West are unavailable in China. Medical facilities
in international hospitals are superb.
Many traditional forms of medicine
are used in China, the most notable being acupuncture.
Medical insurance is strongly recommended. |
