Health Risks: Rabies (This is
a fatal viral infection found throughout South America and parts of
Asia. Many animals can be infected (such as dogs, cats, bats and
monkeys) and it's their saliva that is infectious. Any bite, scratch
or even lick from a warm-blooded, furry animal should be cleaned
immediately and thoroughly. Scrub with soap and running water, and
then apply alcohol or iodine solution. Medical help should be sought
promptly to receive a course of injections to prevent the onset of
symptoms and death), schistosomiasis (bilharzia) (This disease is
carried in fresh water by tiny worms that enter through the skin and
attach themselves to the intestines or bladder. The first symptom
may be tingling and sometimes a light rash around the area where the
worm entered. Weeks later, a high fever may develop. A general
unwell feeling may be the first symptom, or there may be no
symptoms. Once the disease is established, abdominal pain and blood
in the urine are other signs. The infection often causes no symptoms
until the disease is well established (several months to years after
exposure), and damage to internal organs is irreversible. Avoid
swimming or bathing in freshwater where bilharzia is present. Even
deep water can be infected. If you do get wet, dry off quickly and
dry your clothes as well. A blood test is the most reliable test,
but it will not show positive until a number of weeks after
exposure), dengue fever (Unlike the malaria mosquito, the Aedes
aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active
during the day and is found mainly in urban areas, in and around
human dwellings. Signs and symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden
onset of high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains, nausea and
vomiting. A rash of small red spots sometimes appears three to four
days after the onset of fever. Severe complications do sometimes
occur. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you
think you may be infected. A blood test can indicate the possibility
of dengue fever. There is no specific treatment. Aspirin should be
avoided, as it increases the risk of haemorrhaging. There is no
vaccine against dengue fever), malaria (This serious and potentially
fatal disease is spread by mosquito bites and is endemic in most
countries of the region (the exceptions being Singapore and Brunei).
If you are travelling in endemic areas it is extremely important to
avoid mosquito bites and to take tablets to prevent this disease.
Symptoms range from fever, chills and sweating, headache, diarrhoea
and abdominal pains to a vague feeling of ill-health. Seek medical
help immediately if malaria is suspected. Without treatment malaria
can rapidly become more serious and can be fatal. If medical care is
not available, malaria tablets can be used for treatment. There is a
variety of medications such as mefloquine, Fansidar and Malarone.
You should seek medical advice, before you travel, on the right
medication and dosage for you. If you do contract malaria, be sure
to be re-tested for it once you return home, as you can harbour
malaria parasites in your body even if you are symptom-free. To help
prevent mosquito bites: wear light-coloured clothing; wear long
trousers and long-sleeved shirts; use mosquito repellents containing
the compound DEET on exposed areas (prolonged overuse of DEET may be
harmful, especially to children, but its use is considered
preferable to being bitten by disease-transmitting mosquitoes);
avoid perfumes and aftershave; use a mosquito net impregnated with
mosquito repellent (permethrin) – it may be worth taking your own.
Impregnating clothes with permethrin effectively deters mosquitoes
and other insects), cholera (This diarrhoeal disease can cause rapid
dehydration and death. Cholera is caused by a bacteria, Vibrio
cholerae. It's transmitted from person to person by direct contact
(often via healthy carriers of the disease) or via contaminated food
and water. It can be spread by seafood, including crustaceans and
shellfish, which get infected via sewage. Cholera exists where
standards of environmental and personal hygiene are low. Every so
often there are massive epidemics, usually due to contaminated water
in conditions where there is a breakdown of the normal
infrastructure. The time between becoming infected and symptoms
appearing is usually short, between one and five days. The diarrhoea
starts suddenly, and pours out of you. It's characteristically
described as 'ricewater' diarrhoea because it is watery and flecked
with white mucus. Vomiting and muscle cramps are usual, but fever is
rare. In its most serious form, it causes a massive outpouring of
fluid (up to 20L a day). This is the worst case scenario – only
about one in 10 sufferers get this severe form. It's a self-limiting
illness, meaning that if you don't succumb to dehydration, it will
end in about a week without any treatment. You should seek medical
help urgently; in the meantime, start re-hydration therapy with oral
re-hydration salts. You may need antibiotic treatment with
tetracycline, but fluid replacement is the single most important
treatment strategy in cholera. Prevention is by taking basic food
and water precautions, avoiding seafood and having scrupulous
personal hygiene. The currently available vaccine is not thought
worthwhile as it provides only limited protection for a short time)
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8 (Beijing Time.)
Dialling Code: 86
Electricity: 220V ,50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric |
Western
China
