China

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• In September 2008, the contamination of milk powder by melamine, a toxic chemical, caused 47,000 children to be hospitalized for kidney problems, including kidney stones and kidney failure.
• Malaria is present in the Yunnan and on the Hainan island (zone 3, high resistance to chloroquine) and in the north-east (zone 1, no resistance to chloroquine).
• As of February 2008, China has declared 30 human cases of H5N1 (20 deaths). Although the virus appears to be more present in the south of the country, no province is currently advised against.
• An outbreak of enterovirus 71 has sickened over 50 000 persons, mainly children, in the south of the country (Anhui province) during the spring of 2008. In July 2008, the outbreak has resurged in the north-east (Jilin province), with 4 000 cases.
• Chinese authorities have observed a strong increase of the cases of rabies. In 2006, there were over 140,000 cases of dog bites in the capital city.
• The AIDS epidemics has progressed quickly in the country. It is officially estimated that 1 million Chinese are HIV-positive but according to unofficial estimations, the number would be closer to 2 millions. That number could double before 2010.
• Dengue fever is present in several areas of the country, particularly the Hainan island and Guangdong province.
• Tuberculosis is frequent in the country.

FOOD SAFETY

• The sanitary situation of the country remains deficient, especially in rural areas. However, it does not present critical risks for travelers, if they respect a certain number of precautions. In particular, it is recommended to avoir consuming dairy products manufactured in China; the import of these products in the European Union has been banned since 2002.
• Wash fruit and vegetables, to avoid the risk of amoebas; infection or contagion risks depend a lot on the provinces (very high in tropical and sub-tropical zones, almost inexistant in Tibet and in Xinjiang).
• Bring some antibiotics and your usual medication with you, because local substitution products may not be very reliable.
• Tap water is not drinkable, except in luxury hotels.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• Travellers entering the country from an endemic area are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.
Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in isolation. The immunization should be given to children as soon as they are able to walk.
• Japanese encephalitis: for travelers visiting rural areas of Yunnan, the Hainan island, provinces of Guangxi and Guizhou.
• Tuberculosis: in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis against malaria: for a trip to Yunnan or Hainin, mefloquine (commercial name: Lariam) or doxycycline (commercial name: Doxypalu); for a trip to northeastern Chine, chloroquine (commercial name: Nivaquine).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Beijing
• Beijing International Medical Center ("Lufthansa" clinic): phone (010) 65 65 13 84 ou 64 65 13 94, fax (010) 64 65 19 84
• Pumch (Concord or Capital hospital): phone (010) 65 13 50 02 ou (010) 65 29 52 69 ou (010) 65 29 52 84
• Beijing United Family Hospital: (010) 64 33 39 60
Shanghai
• Hôpital Rui Jin (several French-speaking doctors): (021) 64 37 00 45
• Hôpital Hua Shan (id.): (021) 62 48 99 99/62 48 39 86
• Hôpital Hua Dong: (021) 62 48 31 80

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Firemen: 119
• Ambulances / emergency medical help: 999 (120 in Beijing)
• Police: 110

CLIMATE

• In the north-east of the country, the climate is continental: winters (from November to April) are very cold and dry, summers are very hot and wet. Rainfalls occur daily in July and August. Sandstorms may occur in April in Beijing. The north-west is arid with cold and dry winters; summers are very hot and dry.
• The south of the country has a tropical climate. The rain season runs from June to September. Winters are mild and wet, summers hot and wet.
• In the center of the country, winters are cold and summers very hot with a high level of humidity. Rainfalls occur mainly between June and September.
• When to go: between April and May or September-October.