Ⅰ.General Situation of the Epidemics

In the 32nd week of 2008 (August 11 --- August 17), 3,429 cases of 18 kinds of legal defined infectious diseases with two dead cases (one case of hepatitis B and tuberculosis respectively) have been reported in 18 districts and counties of Beijing. Among them, there are 1,427 cases of 13 kinds of Type B infectious diseases, down 4.42% over last week and down 45.43% over the same period of last year. The top six diseases with the most reported cases are diarrhea (854 cases), tuberculosis (243 cases), hepatitis B (124 cases), syphilis (85 cases), measles (28 cases) and hepatitis C (28 cases). A total of 2,002 cases of 5 kinds of Type C diseases (namely infectious diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, epidemic parotitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and rubella) were reported, down 7.57% over last week and down 38.08% over the same period of last year. These account for 58.38% of all reported cases of legal defined infectious diseases, down 38.08% over the same period of last year.

II. Analysis of the Major Epidemics

(1) Dengue fever

This week, one case of dengue fever was reported by Beijing Ditan Hospital. The patient surnamed Zhang is a 30-year-old male currently living in Guanzhuang, Chaoyang District. The disease broke out on August 9, and was confirmed on August 16. Up to August 17, a total of two cases of dengue fever have been reported in Beijing, three cases less than the accumulative number during the same period of last year.

(2) Hand-foot-mouth disease
 This week 270 cases have been reported, down 28.38% over last week. The top five districts and counties with the most reported cases are: Haidian, Fengtai, Chaoyang, Tongzhou and Fangshan, accounting for 60.74% of the total. Those infected are mainly scattered-living children and kindergarten kids, who make up 92.96% of all infected patients.

(3) Diarrhea
This week 854 cases have been reported throughout the city, up 1.30% over last week and down 58.86% over last year. Those infected are mostly scattered-living children, students, cadres, retirees, housework personnel and the unemployed, accounting for 69.79% of the total reported cases.

Ⅲ. Key Notes

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is rampant in summer and autumn. Disease control departments at all levels need to strengthen the reporting work of the epidemic, prioritize etiological surveillance and the surveillance and disinfection of the external environment, and prevent the outbreak and prevalence of the epidemic in Beijing. Citizens should avoid contacts with patients, cultivate hygienic habits, avoid sharing towels and other articles with family members, wash hands and the face more often and avoid rubbing the eyes. It is advised that once infected, the patient should remain home and suspend work or schooling till his/her recovery so as to minimize the possibility of spreading the disease to others.