Ⅰ. Summary
This week (September 1 –7, 2008), 2,718 cases of 16 legally defined infectious diseases with one case of death (hepatitis B) were reported in 18 districts and counties of Beijing Municipality. Among them, 11 categories of Type B Infectious Diseases amounting to 1,240 cases were reported, 7.81% lower than last week and 37.72% lower than the same week last year. The top 5 categories of diseases with the highest incidence rates are as follows: dysentery (877 cases), pulmonary tuberculosis (248 cases), hepatitis B (112 cases), syphilis (71 cases) and gonorrhea (43 cases). Five categories of Type C Infectious Diseases amounting to 1,478 cases were reported, 10.42% lower than last week and 31.98% lower than the same week last year. This week, five categories of Type C Infectious Diseases, namely other infectious diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, epidemic parotitis, acute heamorrhagic conjunctivitis and measles, were reported in Beijing, accounting for 54.38% of the total and 31.98% lower than the same period last year. Among them, epidemic parotitis and measles saw a rise in outbreaks, and acute heamorrhagic conjunctivitis, hand-foot-mouth disease and other infectious diarrhea saw a drop in the number of cases.

Ⅱ. Analysis of the Major Epidemics
(Ⅰ) Dysentery
A total of 677 cases were reported this week, 16.63% lower than last week and 52.32% lower than the same week last year. The 5 regions that have the highest incidence rates are Chaoyang District, Fengtai District, Haidian District, Changping District and Shunyi District, accounting for 60.27% of the total. Those infected are mainly scattered-living children, cadres and staff, students, retirees, domestic helpers and the unemployed, accounting for 72.82% of the total reported cases.

(Ⅱ) Chickenpox
This week, 113 cases were reported, up 68.66% than last week. The 3 regions with the highest incidence rates are Haidian District, Chaoyang District and Fengtai District, accounting for 48.67% of the total. Those infected are mainly students and preschool children, accounting for 65.49% of the total reported cases. And no cases of cumulative outbreaks were reported. 

(Ⅲ) Hand-foot-mouth Disease
A total of 133 cases were reported this week, 24.43% lower than last week. The 5 regions that have the highest incidence rates are Fengtai District, Changping District, Chaoyang District, Haidian District and Tongzhou, accounting for 78.95% of the total. Those infected are mainly scattered-living children and kindergarten kids, accounting for 92.48% of the total reported cases. And no cases of cumulative outbreaks were reported. 

Ⅲ Special Reminder
Stringent measures should be taken to prevent the outbreak of chickenpox in schools and kindergartens
This week, a total of 113 cases of chickenpox were reported in Beijing, up 68.66% than last week. The 3 regions that have the highest incidence rates are Haidian District, Chaoyang District and Fengtai District, accounting for 48.67% of the total. Those infected are mainly students and preschool children, accounting for 65.49% of the total reported cases. And no cases of cumulative outbreaks were reported. 

With the weather getting colder, respiratory infectious diseases like chickenpox will enter high incidence season. At present, the new semester has begun in all kindergartens and schools in Beijing. Therefore, health authorities are alerting relevant institutions to closely monitor the outbreak of chickenpox among children, strengthen the publicity of hygiene and disease prevention, conscientiously implement and enhance morning and noon checks on students, guarantee good indoor ventilation in kindergartens and schools and enable the practice of cleaning with wet brooms. For suspected cases of chickenpox, the infected should be taken to hospital upon detection and diagnosed as soon as possible. Once cases of chickenpox are found, they should be immediately reported to relevant superior departments and the infected should be treated in separate rooms. Those institutions with chickenpox outbreaks should coordinate with disease prevention and control departments in an active manner to jointly handle the situation.