Beijing health authorities have fired off more than 1 million
text messages to fight rumours of a cholera outbreak in the
city.
Text messages have been circulating recently, urging people "do
not eat freshwater fish to prevent cholera," Xinhua News Agency
reported. Beijing Health Bureau (BJHB) then decided to send
messages of their own, offering reassurances that there were no
cholera concerns in the city so residents should not panic.
"Currently aquatic products in the capital's markets are under
strict surveillance by food security and epidemic prevention
departments," said Zhao Tao, director of the epidemic prevention
and control department of BJHB.
"Every week, these departments carry out random inspections of
aquatic products, especially those that easily cause diarrhoea. If
products are unqualified, they will be destroyed in a proper way.
Up to now, no cholera bacteria have been found in Beijing."
But Zhao also reminded Beijingers to pay attention to food
safety during the hot summer months.
According to Beijing's emergency plan for cholera, more than 300
major hospitals in Beijing have opened intestine and stomach
departments. Patients suffering from diarrhoea all receive an
examination for cholera bacteria.
(China Daily August 28, 2006)
