BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) -- One suspected case of
A/H1N1 influenza was reported in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the
Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday.
The case, the first of its kind in the Chinese
mainland so far, involved a 30-year-old man surnamed Bao. He had just returned
to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, from St. Louis of the United States via Tokyo on
Saturday afternoon. He studied at a U.S. University.
Epidemiology experts from Beijing have a
meeting with local public health officials in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of
China, on May 10, 2009. One suspected case of A/H1N1 influenza was
reported in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Ministry of Health
(MOH) said on Sunday. The case, the first of its kind in the Chinese
mainland so far, involved a 30-year-old man who had been transferred to
the Chengdu Infectious Disease Hospital for medical observation.
(Xinhua/Li Ying) Photo Gallery>>>
Bao had traveled on flight NW029 from Tokyo and
arrived at the Beijing International Airport on Saturday. He then flew from
Beijing to Chengdu on flight U8882 the same day, the ministry said.
According to the Sichuan health department that
reported the case to the MOH Sunday afternoon, Bao was found with fever in the
Sichuan People's Hospital and was "initially diagnosed as suspected A/H1N1
influenza case" based on his symptoms and laboratory tests.
Bao was transferred to the Chengdu Infectious Disease
Hospital, the ministry said.
An epidemiology expert from Beijing (R)
discusses with a local public health official in Chengdu, Sichuan Province
of China, on May 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Ying) Photo Gallery>>>
The MOH said Bao developed symptoms of fever on the
flight from Beijing to Chengdu accompanied by sore throats, coughing, stuffy
nose and sneezing. He went to the Sichuan People's Hospital after getting off
the plane.
He was tested "weakly positive" to A/H1N1 virus twice
by the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it said.
The MOH has sent expert team to Chengdu and asked the
local health authorities to immediately send the virus specimen to the Chinese
Center for Disease Control and Prevention for a second check.
Media reporters gather outside the
Chengdu Infectious Disease Hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China,
on May 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli) Photo Gallery>>>
The ministry has asked the Sichuan authorities to
strengthen treatment of the patient, search all the people who had close contact
with Bao and conduct relevant epidemiological investigation.
It has informed provinces and municipalities
concerned to immediately look for the people who had close contact with Bao, and
called for passengers of the two flights to contact health authorities as soon
as possible.
According to the Sichuan Center for Disease Control,
Bao's girlfriend and his father who were in close contact with Bao, have been
put into quarantine.
Also in quarantine was a local taxi driver who was in
close contact with Bao, according to Sichuan Provincial Department of Public
Health.
The department also said there were altogether 150
passengers aboard the flight U8882 and more than 130 of them had been found.
The ministry has reported the case to the World
Health Organization and relevant countries and regions.
In Beijing, a man with a fever after a shared flight
with three people who were later diagnosed with A/H1N1 influenza, was cleared of
the virus after being tested negative, the emergency office of the Beijing
Municipal Government said Sunday.
The man, a native of Beijing, was aboard the U.S.
airlines NW025, which flew from Canada to Japan via the United States on Friday.
Three Japanese passengers aboard the plane were later tested positive for A/H1N1
influenza.
The man, whose name remained unknown, arrived Beijing
Friday night, when his body temperature was normal. He developed fever on
Saturday and was put under medical observation immediately.
CHENGDU, May 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 130 of 150
passengers aboard the same flight with the Chinese mainland's first suspected
case of A/H1N1 influenza, have been found and put into quarantine, according to
a press conference early Monday.
The 30-year-old man surnamed Bao, who had been tested
"weakly positive" to A/H1N1 virus twice by the Sichuan Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), was "conscious and in stable condition," according
to a press conference held by the Chengdu Municipal Government hours after a
suspected case of A/H1N1 influenza had been found in southwestern Sichuan
Province. Full story
