Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE100279
2009-09-25 23:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

TRAVEL ALERT: CHINA 2009-H1N1 INFLUENZA

Tags:  CASC ASEC AMED CH 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 100279 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC AMED CH
SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT: CHINA 2009-H1N1 INFLUENZA
QUARANTINE MEASURES UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 100279

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC AMED CH
SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT: CHINA 2009-H1N1 INFLUENZA
QUARANTINE MEASURES UPDATE


1. The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the
quarantine measures imposed by the Government of China in
response to the 2009-H1N1 pandemic that may affect travel
to China. This Travel Alert updates the July 9, 2009,
Travel Alert in order to advise U.S. citizens of the
current quarantine situation. This Travel Alert expires
on December 30, 2009.


2. In May 2009, China implemented a policy that allows
it to quarantine arriving passengers who exhibit fever or
flu-like symptoms. Although the overall percentage of
U.S. citizens being quarantined remains low, the nature
of the selection process makes it almost impossible to
predict when a traveler may be placed into quarantine.
From May to August 2009, the Department of State received
thousands of reports of quarantined U.S. citizens. Since
September, however, reports of U.S. citizens in
quarantine have been infrequent.


3. In preparation for the October Chinese national
holidays and for the fall/winter 2009 influenza season,
local and provincial governments were tasked by the
Chinese State Council on September 11 to strengthen
disease control and mitigation measures, which could
affect residents and travelers. Local and provincial
policies towards 2009-H1N1 Influenza may remain
unpredictable.


4. Although in July 2009 home quarantine was permitted
as an option for some confirmed 2009-H1N1 Influenza
cases, travelers are advised that quarantine in a
designated hospital or facility remains a possibility.
Quarantine practices, including the separation of
children from their parents or guardians, can vary by
location. In some quarantine situations, there exists
the possibility of Chinese medical personnel
administering medications to minors without parental
permission; the unavailability of suitable drinking water
and food; unsanitary conditions; lack of telephone
access; absence of English-speaking staff; and limited
availability of English-language interpreters. Travelers
may also experience delays at airports, railway stations
and other locations due to health screenings.


5. Travelers are advised that 2009-H1N1 vaccines
approved by foreign regulatory bodies might be
commercially available in China in the upcoming months.
However, the U.S. Government has evaluated only those
vaccines that are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration. For a list of approved vaccines, please
see the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at
http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vac cines/Approv
edProducts/ucm093833.htm


6. All foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, are
obliged to follow local procedures regarding quarantines
and any other public health-related measures. The U.S.
officials are unable to influence the duration of stay in
quarantine for affected travelers. The Chinese
government will not compensate people for lost travel
expenses. Travelers to China are urged to consider
purchasing travel insurance to protect against losses in
the event they are quarantined.


7. For more information on U.S. Government policy during
a pandemic, and for travel safety information, please see
the State Department's "Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet,"
and "Options During a Pandemic" flyer on
www.travel.state.gov. Further information about 2009-
H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay

STATE 00100279 002 OF 003


healthy, can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, the U.S.
Government's federal influenza website at
http://www.flu.gov, and the World Health Organization
website at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/in dex.html.


8. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register
with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the
Department of State's travel registration website at
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regis tration/regi
stration_1186.html. By registering, U.S. citizens can
receive the Embassy's security and safety updates during
their trip. Registration also ensures that U.S. citizens
can be reached should an emergency arise either abroad or
at home. While consular officers will do their utmost to
assist U.S. citizens in a crisis, travelers should always
be aware that local authorities bear primary
responsibility for the welfare of people living or
traveling in their jurisdictions.


9. Beijing: The U.S. Embassy is located at No. 55 An Jia
Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. The American
Citizen Services section can be contacted during regular
business hours and for after-hours emergencies at (86)
(10) 8531-4000; E-mail: amcitbeijing@state.gov. For
detailed information please visit the Embassy's website
at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/. The Embassy
consular district includes the following
provinces/regions of China: Beijing, Gansu, Tianjin,
Shandong, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi,
Qinghai, Xinjiang, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and
Jiangxi.


10. Chengdu: The U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu is
located at Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin
Nanlu, Chengdu 610041; tel. (86)(28) 8558-3992, 8555-
3119; E-mail: consularchengdu@state.gov. For after-hours
emergencies (86)(28) 1370 8001 422. For detailed
information please visit the Consulate's website at
http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/. This consular
district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Guizhou, Sichuan Xizang (Tibet),and Yunnan, as
well as the municipality of Chongqing.


11. Guangzhou: The main office of the U.S. Consulate
General in Guangzhou is located at Number 1 South Shamian
Street, Shamian Island 200S1, Guangzhou 510133. The
Consular Section, including the American Citizens
Services Unit, is now located at 5th Floor, Tianyu Garden
(II phase),136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District;
tel. (86)(20) 8518-7605; after-hours emergencies (86)(20)
8121-8000; E-mail: GuangzhouACS@state.gov. For detailed
information please visit the Consulate's website at
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/. This consular
district includes the following provinces/regions of
China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian.


12. Shanghai: The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate
General in Shanghai is located in the Westgate Mall, 8th
Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200031; tel. (86)(21)
3217-4650, ext. 2102, 2013, or 2134; after-hours
emergencies (86)(21) 6433-3936; E-mail:
Shanghaiacs@state.gov. For detailed information please
visit the Consulate's webisite http://shanghai.usembassy-
china.org.cn/. This consular district includes the
following provinces/regions of China: Shanghai, Anhui,
Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.


13. Shenyang: The U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang is
located at No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District,
Shenyang 110003; tel. (86)(24) 2322-2374; after-hours
emergencies (86)(24) 137-0988-9307; E-mail:
ShenyangACS@state.gov. For detailed information please
visit the Consulate's website
http://shenyang.usembassy-china.org.cn/

STATE 00100279 003 OF 003


china.org.cn/. This consular district includes the
following provinces/regions of China: Liaoning,
Heilongjiang, and Jilin.


14. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on
security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free
in the United States or outside the United States and
Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.


15. Minimize considered.
CLINTON