Reported EHF cases shoot up in Jilin
By He Na (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-03-22 07:38

CHANGCHUN: Nearly 200 people caught hemorrhagic fever (EHF) in an outbreak of the disease in Northeast China's Jilin Province in January. The figure is an increase of 150 per cent over the same period last year, according to a survey released by the Jilin Provincial Health Bureau.

The province reported a total of 1,840 cases of EHF last year, an incidence of 6.9 cases in every 100,000 people - the third highest frequency of any province in China.

Statistics show more men have been affected than women, with people between the age of 25 to 45 years old making up half of all cases.

Farmers account for 70 per cent of the reported cases while workers and students account for 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.

Experts say the increase in EHF, which can be spread by mice, is a result of poor hygienic conditions that has given rise to an explosion in the provinces' rodent population. The situation is even worse in mountainous areas such as the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture, cities of Baishan and Tonghua.

Moreover, in poverty-stricken areas, many farmers cannot afford the 25 to 30 yuan (US$3-3.6) charge for vaccination against the disease. Low vaccination rates have contributed to this year's steep increase in cases of the disease, experts say.

"Several critical steps will be taken this year to solve the problems in the prevention and treatment of EHF," said Li Dianfu, director of the Jilin Provincial Health Bureau.

He added that in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading further, the bureau has issued emergency instructions to exterminate mice.

At the same time efforts are being made to increase vaccination rates and protect those most susceptible to the disease.

As there is a tendency for the virus to spread from high-risk groups to the general population, Jilin Province will also monitor the incidence of EHF among people and animals in six selected regions.

In addition, health officials will strengthen publicity of preventive measures by organizing expertlectures.

According to experts, the disease is at its most prevalent during April and May.

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