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JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS - CHINA (02): SUSPECTED ********************************************* A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Sponsored in part by Elsevier, publisher of The International Journal of Infectious Diseases Date: Fri1 Jul 2005 15:28:20 +0800 From: ProMED-mail Source: Gansu Daily / Xinhua 28 Jun 2005 [edited] No epidemic encephalitis outbreak in Gansu: official -------------------------------------------------- The recent encephalitis outbreak among children in Tianshui, a city in northwest China's Gansu Province, was neither epidemic encephalitis nor encephalitis B [Japanese encephalitis], but a sort of viral encephalitis [pure speculation without laboratory confirmation - Mod.RY], according to Wang Jian, director of the city's disease control and prevention center. At a press conference held Friday morning by the provincial health authority, Wang said from 4 Mar to 23 Jun 2005, 2 hospitals in Tianshui received 153 ill children aged between 1 and 13 with fevers and headaches. 53 boys and 30 girls were diagnosed as having viral encephalitis. Of the remaining 70 cases, 23 were suspected and 47 were ruled out as having encephalitis. Currently, there are still 42 children under observation and medical treatment, of whom 13 have been diagnosed as having viral encephalitis, Wang said. The children are expected to leave the hospital in the near future. Earlier reports suggested the encephalitis breakout had something to do with an encephalitis B [Japanese encephalitis] vaccine injection in some kindergartens in Tianshui. But the Friday press conference ruled out the possibility. The cause of the breakout remains unknown, and blood samples have been sent to the China Disease Control and Prevention Center in Beijing for virus separation. -- ProMED-mail [This is an official statement from both provincial and city health authorities. Essentially it says that there has been no epidemic encephalitis outbreak in Gansu. Though no laboratory evidence was offered, the officials suspect that the outbreak is attributable to some sort of viral encephalitis, but nothing to do with Japanese encephalitis. Meanwhile, the following was brought to our attention by a usually reliable source from China. A similar report from the ChinaNews in Chinese, said, "The 150 children in Tianshui city had viral encephalitis. An echovirus was the suspected pathogen. The disease has no connection with the JE vaccine, though some of the sick children had JE vaccination before the onset of the symptoms. Most children recovered; only 6 remain in hospital." This report mentions an echovirus for the first time, though again, no laboratory evidence was offered. With their name derived from the acronym Enteric Cytopathic Human Orphan, echoviruses are a group of enteroviruses that commonly cause gastrointestinal infections and skin rashes. More serious infections are seen less frequently. Echoviruses cause a wide variety of conditions, including acute gastroenteritis, viral pharyngitis, herpangina (mouth sores), croup, upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, pericarditis, myocarditis, aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. The over 3-month-old outbreak of suspected viral encephalitis in Gansu remains largely enigmatic. ProMED would appreciate further information from colleagues familiar with the field. -Mod.RY] [see also: Japanese encephalitis - China: susp 20050626.1796 2004 ---- Japanese encephalitis - China (Hong Kong) (02) 20040623.1672 Japanese encephalitis - China (Hong Kong) 20040611.1573 2003 ---- Japanese encephalitis, local transmission - China (HK) 20031106.2749 Japanese encephalitis - China (Guangdong) (03) 20030629.1599 Japanese encephalitis - China (Guangdong) (02) 20030625.1564 Japanese encephalitis - China (Guangdong) 20030622.1538] *##########################################################*

Now this one worries me...... granny UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS, STUDENTS - CHINA (JILIN) ********************************************* A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Sat 2 Jul 2005 From: Dan Silver Source: Xinhuanet News Agency, Jilin Taonan Fri 1 Jul 2005 [trans. by submitter; edited] China: More than 200 Students in Taonan (Jilin Province) Hospitalized with Suspected Influenza -------------------------------------------------- From 6:00 p.m. on Wed 29 Jun 2005 onwards, some students of the 10th Middle School in the City of Taonan (Jilin Province in northeastern China) came down with fever and sore throat. By 11 am on Fri 1 Jul 2005, a total of 223 students had the above symptoms. 207 students were admitted to hospital for treatment. The Provincial Health Bureau rushed epidemiologists and specialists in infectious disease, [together with specialists in respiratory, nervous and digestive disorders] to Taonan to conduct investigations. Through detailed examination of patients and after lab tests, the illness was diagnosed as influenza. At present, ill students are in Taonan Municipal Hospital, Shizhong Hospital, and Shibaojian Hospital. After receiving treatment for symptoms, the temperature of 171 students has already returned to normal and symptoms are basically resolved. They remain hospitalized for observation. The cause of the students' illness has not been conclusively determined. At present, all hospitalized students have been isolated. After the illnesses became known, the Provincial Secretary Wang Yunkun and other leaders demanded that the cause of the illnesses be rapidly determined, treatment implemented, and the safety of the students ensured. All levels of the public health apparatus [must] establish specialized medical teams and organize the entire city's medical personnel to spare no effort [to confirm the diagnosis] and [organise appropriate treatment]. Taonan City's 10th Middle School is an ordinary intermediate school. Most of the [affected pupils] are 1st- and 2nd-year boarding students. There are a total of 1053 1st- and 2nd-year students in the school. Of these 556 are boarding students. The school started school-wide vacation on Thu 30 Jun 2005 and has established a "School Guard Team". [Byline: Li Yabiao and Gong Lei] -- Dan Silver [The diagnosis of influenza must be regarded as no more than provisional. The description of the illness is not specific enough to suggest a precise diagnosis. The abruptness of onset, the predominance of sore throats, and the rapid resolution of symptoms do not suggest influenza. Many other viruses and non-viral pathogens could be responsible. Further information is awaited. - Mod.CP] [see also: Respiratory illness, children - China (Guangzhou) (02) 20050415.1088 Respiratory illness, children - China (Guangzhou): RFI 20050414.107] ........................cp/pg/lm