Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08GUANGZHOU250 | 2008-05-06 09:03:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Guangzhou |
VZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHGZ #0250/01 1270903 ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX8D404B MSI1799 400A) R 060903Z MAY 08 ZDS FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7087 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUCNARFC/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP// RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5// RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J2/J3/J5// RUEORDA/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//MA-1A// |
UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000250 |
1. (U) Summary: A hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak has led to three deaths in Guangdong province, and the infection of more than 1,600 local children. Guangdong's Department of Health has created an HFMD task force to increase local monitoring, prevention and control efforts. Guangdong authorities anticipate more than 10,000 cases of HFMD by year's end, mostly occurring during the peak months of June and July. According to one specialist, the disease has occurred sporadically over the past few years; there is more public notice of it now that it has been listed in the category of statutory reported infections. End summary. -------------------------- The Threat to South China -------------------------- 2. (SBU) HFMD, which has already claimed the lives of 22 children in Anhui province, has led to the death of two infants in Guangdong's Foshan city, and one infant in Maoming city, both located southwest of Guangzhou. As of May 5, Guangdong had documented 1,692 cases of HFMD among local children. Of cases reported, 372 were in Guangzhou, 519 were in Shenzhen, and another 373 in Foshan, the most severely affected municipalities. According to Dr. Tang Xiaoping, well known in Guangzhou for his work during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak and currently serving as Deputy-Director of Guangzhou's Public Health Bureau, all of Guangzhou's HFMD cases are mild, and the infected infants are recovering. However, authorities are not ruling out increased fatality rates and additional outbreaks in the coming months. According to the Guangdong Government Emergency Response Office, Guangdong is expected to see at least 10,000 cases of HFMD by the end of 2008. 3. (U) Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which mostly affects infants and young children, especially those without access to proper healthcare and facilities, is transmitted through direct contact with saliva, feces, or mucus. Symptoms range from rash and fever, to severe neurological damage. Various viruses can cause HFMD, however, Enterovirus 71 (EV 71), known to attack the intestines, is one of the more dangerous. There is no clearly effective vaccine or anti-viral agent for treating EV 71. 4. (SBU) Of the three reported deaths in Guangdong, the two in Foshan were confirmed to be caused by the EV 71 virus. Two cases in Shenzhen and one other in Foshan have also been linked to EV 71. According to Feng Shaomin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Guangdong Department of Health, Guangdong currently does not have the capacity to test all cases of HFMD for the EV 71 virus. Health officials report that no Guangdong HFMD patients are currently in critical condition, and Tang Xiaoping claimed that the EV 71 situation is under control. According to the Guangdong Center for Disease Control (CDC), the most significant challenges ahead are preventing the spread of HFMD during June and July, the disease's peak season. They are also working to prevent asymptomatic infected adults from infecting children. -------------------------- Prevention and Control -------------------------- 5. (SBU) The Ministry of Health instructed local authorities to address HFMD outbreaks with the same vigilance as they would address SARS. Guangdong's Department of Health has taken steps to control the outbreaks and prevent further spreading of the disease. Under the direction of the Department's director, an HFMD Prevention and Control Team has been established. The team covers two areas -- disease prevention and control, and medical treatment. In addition, the following measures have been implemented: -- Experts have been dispatched to affected areas to provide guidance and assistance to medical professionals and those infected. -- Guangdong health authorities have strengthened all monitoring and reporting efforts, including the requirement of hospitals to report all cases within 24 hours of detection to the Guangdong Department of Health. -- Authorities are increasing public awareness campaigns to outline methods of prevention, including visits to local nurseries and primary schools to educate teachers about proper hygiene methods. In the coming days, the HFMD task force is planning to focus attention on enhancing clinical care and diagnosis, and providing immediate training for local CDC personnel for HFMD screening and testing purposes. -------------------------- Reporting and Data -------------------------- 6. (SBU) Officials disagree on how much more severe this year's HFMD outbreaks are compared to previous years. According to Dr. Tang Xiaoping of the Guangzhou Public Health Bureau, the number of cases seems to have risen this year; however, the President of Guangzhou's Children's Hospital said that the number of cases in Guangzhou is not significantly higher than last year. The discrepancy is due in part to a lack of consistent data. An expert from Guangdong's CDC told us that the apparent increase in cases in Guangdong is a result of this week's changes in reporting practices. Prior to May 2, the Ministry of Health did not classify HFMD as an infectious disease legally subject to reporting or requiring public notification; therefore, only outbreaks (classified as the occurrence of more than three cases), not sporadic cases, were reported. Because of this, reports are now more regular, while statistical data on past outbreaks is sparse. In 2006, Guangdong province reported 670 cases and Fujian province reported 240 cases; statistical data for 2007 is still unavailable. The Guangdong Department of Health's Foreign Affairs Division Chief Feng Shaomin told us that inconsistent reporting has made it difficult to compare this year's outbreak to long-term trends, but it does represent a significant increase over 2006. 7. (U) Beijing Embassy ESTH has cleared this cable. GOLDBERG |