Wang Chuan was found suspected cases of plague in Xuanwu hospital and Beijing Children's Hospital of Beijing. The reporter just learned from the Beijing municipal health and Health Committee that the experts from Beijing organized the comprehensive judgement of two patients who came from Erdos City, Inner Mongolia. Combined with the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations and pathogen examination, the patients did not meet the diagnostic criteria of plague and eliminated plague. Release isolation observation.
In addition, two plague confirmed patients from Xilinguole Meng, Inner Mongolia, were in stable condition and another expert consultation. The condition is still critical and slightly improved. Symptomatic treatment is under way.
Up to now, no new plague cases have been reported in the city, and no reports of fever and other related abnormalities have been received.
Extended reading:
In response to public concerns about plague, the reporter interviewed authoritative experts in China.
Current prevention and control situation?
On November 14, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission issued an official notice that Beijing has launched a public health emergency response mechanism, and 11 experts have been transferred from tertiary hospitals, CDC and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals to form a municipal medical treatment expert group to carry out guidance and consultation and properly treat two confirmed patients.
According to the latest news of Beijing Health Protection Committee on the evening of 14, the network transmission was found in Xuanwu Hospital of Beijing and Beijing Children's Hospital suspected cases of plague. Beijing experts organized the comprehensive evaluation of two patients from Inner Mongolia Erdos City, excluding plague and lifting quarantine observation. In addition, two plague confirmed patients from Xilinguole Meng, Inner Mongolia, were in stable condition and another expert consultation. The condition is still critical and slightly improved. Symptomatic treatment is under way. Up to now, no new plague cases have been reported in the city, and no reports of fever and other related abnormalities have been received.
What is plague and how to spread it?
Wang Chengxin, honorary director of the animal biology and control branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, told the Global Times reporter that plague is a natural foci caused by Yersinia pestis, which is prevalent among rodents and occasionally causes human epidemics. It is the infectious disease of class a stipulated in the law of the People's Republic of China on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The sources of plague are infected animal and plague sufferers. There are two main modes of transmission of plague: one is "mouse flea man" and the other is "human to human" transmission. It refers to the infection of respiratory tract by healthy people after exposure to a pneumonic plague. This infection is mainly caused by pneumonic plague.
Will there be a large-scale plague epidemic this time?
Wang Chengxin said that human history has experienced 3 plague epidemics. Today, on the basis of scientific prevention and control, plague has been effectively monitored and controlled in most parts of the world. The last large-scale epidemic was the Indian Ocean island country Madagascar in 2017. At present, the plague cases in China are rare but not extinct. Only 12 cases occurred in 2009. After 10 years, there are only a few cases, not even a year.
Wang Chengxin said that from the perspective of infectious conditions, since Beijing launched the work of "creating health work", mice were much less and not plague foci. If the patient's referral process is handled properly, coupled with the cold weather and fleas, the Yersinia pestis will not spread easily. Although Xilinguole Meng is a plague focus, the temperature is very low. Marmots and squirrels, which are highly pathogenic and highly toxic, may rarely appear on the ground because of hibernation. They have little contact with humans and are unlikely to spread plague in large areas. From the perspective of epidemic prevention and control level, China's response to infectious diseases is very rapid. Once an epidemic is found, measures will be taken immediately. Coupled with the development of medical standards, there are already good medicines for prevention and treatment of pneumonic plague.
How do ordinary people prevent it?
Wang Chengxin said that because the plague mainly spread through the respiratory system, people who worry about it can wear masks in the near future, and the best choice is professional medical masks. Wash your hands frequently and try not to go to crowded places and places with poor air circulation; Exercise more in life and eat foods rich in vitamin C to enhance immunity. Avoid the source of infection. Do not travel or activities in the epidemic area, and avoid contact with rodents, such as rats, marmots, etc; It is strictly prohibited to hunt and eat animals, and avoid dealing with animals with unknown causes of death. Flea sting is an important way of transmission of bubonic plague, and repellents can be used to drive fleas in life. If you have been to a nearby epidemic area or have been infected with plague, you should observe it for 9 days afterwards. If there are symptoms of fever and cough, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Is there a plague vaccine?
CNN14 said so far that there is no effective vaccine against plague. However, timely use of antibiotics can prevent plague complications and deaths. Recently, however, plague was found to be highly resistant to streptomycin antibiotics in Madagascar. Researchers are exploring a variety of ways to develop effective vaccines. In view of the different immune mechanisms of different vaccine designs, researchers believe that the compound vaccine may overcome the limitations of single vaccine and effectively prevent the outbreak of plague.
According to the WHO website, vaccination is not recommended for the general population, except for high-risk groups (such as laboratory personnel and health workers who are often exposed to the risk of infection).
What precautions should residents take?
Avoid traveling or activities in epidemic areas.
Avoid contact with rodents: rats or marmots; It is strictly prohibited to hunt, peel and eat rats, marmots and other animals.
Use insecticides or repellents to avoid flea bites and deal with dead rats of unknown causes.
Avoid contact with patients suffering from plague, and contact with patients who may be infected with plague. They should wear masks and wash hands frequently.
If you have ever been to an epidemic area or are in close contact with plague patients, you should observe it for 9 days at home and observe any symptoms such as fever, cough and lymph node enlargement. You should immediately visit a nearby hospital and inform the doctor of your own history of the epidemic.
Persons closely contacted with plague cases should follow the management of disease control agencies in their respective jurisdictions.
Source: official account of Beijing daily, global times, Beijing evening news, WeChat public.