Press Release

Case of plague in Sichuan under close watch

10 September 2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Ministry of Health (MoH) today (September 10) concerning a case of bubonic plague.

A CHP spokesman said that according to the preliminary information from MoH, three villagers in Ganzizhou, Sichuan Province had consumed a dead marmot on September 2. One of them presented with painful swelling of lymph nodes on the right side on September 4 and was admitted to hospital on September 7. His condition deteriorated later and he passed away on the same day.

According to the deceased’s clinical characteristics, epidemiological investigation and laboratory test results, the health authority of Sichuan Province confirmed the case to be bubonic plague. The health authority has traced 59 close contacts of the deceased (including the other two villagers who had consumed the marmot) and carried out medical surveillance. None of them were symptomatic.

"We are maintaining close liaison with MOH in order to obtain more information on the case," the spokesman said.

Department of Health's Port Health Office will also alert the travel industry about the report.

Plague is transmitted from an infected animal, mainly rodent, to man through the bite of an infected animal's flea. People can also contract plague when cuts or other breaks in their skin come into contact with the body fluid or tissue of infected animals.

Bubonic plague is a kind of plague which is not usually transmitted directly from person to person unless there is contact with pus from suppurating buboes. Patient infected with bubonic plague usually presents with fever, headache and painful swelling of the regional lymph nodes especially around the groin. The infection can progress to septicaemic plague when the bacteria invade the blood stream.

The spokesman reminded travellers should avoid visiting plague-endemic areas. People who had a need to travel to areas with plague report have to be vigilant and have to observe precautionary measures including wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid being bitten by flea and applying insect repellent.

"They should seek medical attention immediately if they are feeling unwell," the spokesman said.