WARDEN MESSAGE ON PNEUMONIC PLAGUE

According to Associated Press and Xinhua news reports, there is a small outbreak of pneumonic plague in the rural town of Ziketan, in Qinghai Province's Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.  Xinhua and other official Chinese news media have reported that the town and its vicinity have been closed off.  The media further reports that there have been three deaths and nine other individuals infected to date, most of whom are relatives of the first patient.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plague recurs yearly in many parts of the world, including the United States and China.  Plague is caused by a bacterium found in rodents and fleas and is usually spread from rodents to humans through flea bites, and through inhalation of coughed droplets containing the plague bacteria.  Transmission requires close proximity with an ill person or animal.  As the CDC website states, symptoms of pneumonic plague include high fever with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and sometimes bloody sputum. 

Travelers to the area are advised that although pneumonic plague transmission beyond close contacts is rare, World Health Organization (WHO) guidance states it is prudent to avoid contact with people or animals suspected of being ill with pneumonic plague, and to limit exposure to flea bites, poor sanitary conditions as well as enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. 

According to the CDC, travelers exhibiting symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, as early treatment with antibiotics within 24 hours is essential to treatment success. 

Additional information on infectious diseases, including pneumonic plague, can be found at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/content/diseases.aspx, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) website http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs267/en/.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. or Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

The U.S. Embassy can be reached 24 hours per day at 86-10-8531-3000. The addresses and telephone contact information for the American Citizen Services offices at the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates are at the bottom of this announcement. 

U.S. citizens residing or traveling in China are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at:  https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Embassy Beijing:  Tian Ze Road intersection of An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District.  Telephone number during regular business hours and for after-hours emergencies: 86-10-8531-4000, Email: amcitbeijing@state.gov.  The embassy’s website is beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn. 

U.S. Consulate General Chengdu:  Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu 610041, tel. 86-28-8558-3992, Email: consularchengdu@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-28-1370-800-1422.

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou:  The Consular Section is located at 5th Floor, Tianyu Garden (II phase), 136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510133, tel. (86-20) 8518-7605, Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov.  Guangzhou adoptions Email: GuangzhouA@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-20-8121-8000.

U.S. Consulate General Shanghai:  The Consular Section is located in the Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200041; tel. (86-21) 3217-4650, Email: Shanghaiacs@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-21-6433-3936.

U.S. Consulate General Shenyang:  No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110003; tel. (86-24) 2322-1198, Email: ShenyangACS@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-24-137-0988-9307.