An outbreak of conjunctivitis that affected more than 1,000
employees at a factory owned by Foxconn, the world's largest
electronics manufacturer, is under control, Shenzhen's disease
control and prevention center said Thursday.
Jiang Lijuan, a spokeswoman from the center, said that the
monthlong outbreak is under control after all contagious employees
had been quarantined for four weeks.
She said other large factories in Bao'an and Longgang districts
had also been affected in the past two months, but refused to name
them.
"The infection has also been widely reported in major hospitals
during the past month, but it's easy to cure with necessary
treatment," said Jiang.
More than 1,000 employees at Foxconn, Taiwan's manufacturing
goliath, most of them assembly line workers, were quarantined after
being infected with the disease.
Foxconn, owned by Taiwanese tycoon Guo Taimin, is the largest
manufacturer of electronics and computer components worldwide.
It employs some 200,000 employees in Shenzhen, including 130,000
assembly line workers at its Bao'an factory. One staff member
surnamed Li from the company said the E tower of its staff
dormitory had been used to house the 1,000 infected people. Around
half of the cured workers were released during the past month.
"The tower was cordoned off in early August," said Li.
Those quarantined in the tower are prohibited to walk out to
avoid spreading the disease. Food and medical deliveries are
provided.
"The confined eat in the cafeteria inside the building and
doctors are also available in the building to treat them," Li said,
saying that those cured are then allowed to go back to work.
Staff from Foxconn's health department said Thursday that it is
not convenient for them to disclose the latest progress of the
contagion.
The company's spokesman surnamed Li refused to comment whether
the epidemic had affected their production.
In early August, more than 1,000 Foxconn workers were
quarantined in a budget hotel outside the factory after contracting
the disease.
They were later moved to the E tower due to the soaring number
of patients and limited spaces.
The city's health authority suggests people frequently wash
hands and avoid rubbing eyes with hands.
(Shenzhen Daily September 7, 2007)