According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, the surveillance data on notifiable infectious diseases during November, 2007 and January, 2008 is as follows:
November, 2007--323,065 cases were reported with a category A or category B notifiable infectious disease, including 692 deaths. Among the cases, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis B, syphilis, dysentery and gonorrhea were the top five diseases with highest case count; and rabies, pulmonary tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis B, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were the top five diseases that resulted in the most deaths. Further, a fatal case of plague was reported from Gansu Province, which was the second case that occurred in 2007.
December, 2007--320,506 cases were reported with a category A or category B notifiable infectious diseases, including 991 deaths. Among the cases, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis B, syphilis, dysentery and gonorrhea were the top five most frequently reported diseases; and rabies, pulmonary tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis B, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were the top five diseases that resulted in the most deaths. On the other hand, two human cases of H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed in this month, and one of them was fatal.
January, 2008--300,637 cases were reported with a category A or category B notifiable infectious diseases, including 567 deaths. Among the cases, pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis B, syphilis, measles and gonorrhea were the top five most frequently reported cases; and pulmonary tuberculosis, rabies, AIDS, hepatitis B, and measles were the top five diseases that resulted in the most deaths.
Within the past three months, AIDS, measles, pertussis, brucellosis, syphilis, and schistosomes all reported more cases when compared to the same period last year.More specifically, 2,065 cases of AIDS, including 427 deaths, were reported, reflecting a 27.5% increase over the same period last year (1,619 cases, including 228 deaths). 24,918 cases of measles, including 35 deaths, were reported, reflecting a 28% increase over the same period last year (19,452 cases, including 14 deaths). 508 cases of pertussis were reported, reflecting a 19.8% increase over the same period last year (424 cases). 2,970 cases of brucellosis were reported, reflecting a 19.3% increase over the same period last year (2,489 cases). 57,985 cases of syphilis were reported, reflecting a 24% increase over the same period last year (46,759 cases). 712 cases of schistosomes were reported, reflecting a 43.8% increase over the same period last year (495 cases).
In view of frequent trade and travel between China and Taiwan, Taiwan CDC periodically provides the public with surveillance data on notifiable infectious diseases in China. In addition, Taiwan CDC also urges the people planning to visit China recently to take the following precautions for forestalling related infection and ensuring their health: practice safe sex (use condom throughout the whole course); strengthen respiratory protection (wear masks when necessary); stay away from poultry and livestock; avoid eating aquatic products such as spiral shells and snails; and refrain from dabbling water in the rural areas.