East Asia

China

The People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949, with Beijing as its capital city. With well over 1.3 billion citizens, China is the world's most populous country and the third largest country in the world in terms of territory. China is undergoing rapid, profound economic and social change and development. Political power remains centralized in the Chinese Communist Party. Modern tourist facilities are available in major cities, but many facilities in smaller provincial cities and rural areas are frequently below international standards.

CRIME: Overall, China is a safe country, with a low but increasing crime rate. Pickpockets target tourists at sightseeing destinations, open air markets and in stores, often with the complicity of low-paid security guards. Violence against foreigners occurs, but it is rare.

Throughout China, women outside hotels in tourist districts frequently use the prospect of companionship or sex to lure foreign men to isolated locations where accomplices are waiting for the purpose of robbery. Travellers should not allow themselves to be driven to bars or an individual's home unless they know the person making the offer.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Western style medical facilities with international staffs are available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and a few other large cities. Many other hospitals in major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang). These feature reasonably up-to-date medical technology and physicians who are both knowledgeable and skilled. Most VIP wards also provide medical services to foreigners and have English-speaking doctors and nurses. Most hospitals in China will not accept medical insurance. Travellers will be asked to post a deposit prior to admission to cover the expected cost of treatment. Many hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards for payment. Even in the VIP/Foreigner wards of major hospitals, however,

Ambulances do not carry sophisticated medical equipment, and ambulance personnel generally have little or no medical training. Therefore, injured or seriously ill travellers may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive. In rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are generally available. Medical personnel in rural areas are often poorly trained, have little medical equipment or availability to medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations.

Arthropodborne diseases:

• Malaria risk occurs in Hainan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang (only along the valley of the Zangbo river in the extreme south-east) and Yunnan. Very low malaria risk (P. vivax only) exists in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong. The risk may be higher in areas of focal outbreaks. Where transmission exists, it occurs only in remote rural communities below 1500 m: from July to November north of latitude 33°N, from May to December between 33°N and 25°N, and throughout the year south of 25°N. There is no malaria risk in urban areas nor in the densely populated plain areas.
  
• Dengue fever
• Filariasis
• Leishmaniasis
• Japanese encephalitis
• Plague

We recommend:

• Usage of long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects
• Usage og insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
• Usage of a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin.
• Staying and sleeping in air-conditioned houses

Water- and foodborne diseases:

• Brucellosis
• Cholera
• ETEC (e.coli)
• Giardiasis
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid fever

Other diseases:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• HIV

Vaccination recommended:

• Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin
• Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
• Yellow fever when entering from a yellow fever endemic region
• Japanes encephalitis, only if you plan to visit rural areas for 4 weeks or more
• Typhoid fever - if staying in remote areas
• Rabies - if risk for contact with wild animals
• A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.

Stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans
• Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it
• Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
• Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot
• Do not travel at night
• Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
• In general, tourists do not need to take malaria prophylaxis unless they plan to stay in remote rural areas in the provinces listed above.
  Recommended prophylaxis in risk areas: chloroquine; in Hainan and Yunnan, mefloquine.(chloroquine resistance)

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Updated 08-Apr-2003 • İtraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

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