China's top quarantine watchdog said it would take strict measures
to prevent yellow fever and meningitis from sneaking into the
country.
The World Health Organization has reported cases of death caused by
the two epidemics in Africa, according to the State General
Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and
Quarantine (AQSIQ).
Yellow fever killed at least 20 people in Cote d'Ivoire by
September 17 while meningitis has caused 24 deaths in Angola so
far.
AQSIQ recommends that passengers heading to Cote d'Ivoire and
Angola be inoculated against the two diseases.
Those who return from Cote d'Ivoire must show inoculation
certificates before they can enter China. If symptoms of jaundice
or fever are found, they will be isolated.
Similar measures will be followed if passengers returning from
Angola show symptoms of fever, nausea, headache or vomiting.
It
also will be necessary for containers and vehicles from the areas
stricken by yellow fever to have certification that quarantine
measures were taken to get rid of mosquitoes.
China is now establishing a pre-warning and rapid response
mechanism in exit-entry quarantine.
Relevant regulations have been approved and will take effect on
November 15.
(Chinadaily
09/28/2001)