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| Second plague death in west China | Second plague death in west China |
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| A second man has died of pneumonic plague in a remote part of north-west China where a town of more than 10,000 people has been sealed off. | A second man has died of pneumonic plague in a remote part of north-west China where a town of more than 10,000 people has been sealed off. |
| The 37-year-old victim was a neighbour of the first person to die from the plague, a herdsman aged 32 in Ziketan in Xinghai in Qinghai Province. | The 37-year-old victim was a neighbour of the first person to die from the plague, a herdsman aged 32 in Ziketan in Xinghai in Qinghai Province. |
| The sparsely populated area is mostly inhabited by Tibetans. | The sparsely populated area is mostly inhabited by Tibetans. |
| Pneumonic plague, which attacks the lungs, can spread from person to person or from animals to people. | Pneumonic plague, which attacks the lungs, can spread from person to person or from animals to people. |
| A spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, Vivian Tan, said an outbreak such as this was always a concern, but praised the Chinese for reacting quickly and for getting the situation under control. | A spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, Vivian Tan, said an outbreak such as this was always a concern, but praised the Chinese for reacting quickly and for getting the situation under control. |
| A BBC correspondent in Beijing, Michael Bristow, says that unlike in the past the authorities are being very open about this outbreak. | A BBC correspondent in Beijing, Michael Bristow, says that unlike in the past the authorities are being very open about this outbreak. |
| Sealed off | Sealed off |
| Local officials in north-western China have told the BBC that the situation is under control, and that schools and offices are open as usual. | Local officials in north-western China have told the BBC that the situation is under control, and that schools and offices are open as usual. |
| This area is quite remote and the population is very small so this should make it easier to contain Vivian Tan a WHO spokeswoman in China class="" href="/2/hi/health/medical_notes/n-p/1834332.stm">Medical notes: Plague | |
| But to prevent the plague spreading, the authorities have sealed off Ziketan, which has some 10,000 residents. | But to prevent the plague spreading, the authorities have sealed off Ziketan, which has some 10,000 residents. |
| About 10 other people inside the town have so far contracted the disease, according to state media. | About 10 other people inside the town have so far contracted the disease, according to state media. |
| No-one is being allowed leave the area, and the authorities are trying to track down people who had contact with the men who died. | No-one is being allowed leave the area, and the authorities are trying to track down people who had contact with the men who died. |
| Initial symptoms of pneumonic plague include fever, headache and shortness of breath. | Initial symptoms of pneumonic plague include fever, headache and shortness of breath. |
| The local health bureau has warned anyone with a cough or fever who has visited the town since mid-July to seek medical treatment. | The local health bureau has warned anyone with a cough or fever who has visited the town since mid-July to seek medical treatment. |
| Outbreak anticipated | Outbreak anticipated |
| Health officials in Qinghai have been concerned about pneumonic plague for some time. | Health officials in Qinghai have been concerned about pneumonic plague for some time. |
| In February, they said they had sent out 55 teams across the province to help monitor and control the disease. | In February, they said they had sent out 55 teams across the province to help monitor and control the disease. |
| One Chinese media report said this was the third outbreak of the disease in Qinghai within the last 10 years. | One Chinese media report said this was the third outbreak of the disease in Qinghai within the last 10 years. |
| According to the WHO, pneumonic plague is the most virulent and least common form of plague. | According to the WHO, pneumonic plague is the most virulent and least common form of plague. |
| It is caused by the same bacteria that occur in bubonic plague - the Black Death that killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages. | It is caused by the same bacteria that occur in bubonic plague - the Black Death that killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages. |
| But while bubonic plague is usually transmitted by flea bites and can be treated with antibiotics, pneumonic plague is easier to contract and if untreated, has a very high case-fatality ratio. | But while bubonic plague is usually transmitted by flea bites and can be treated with antibiotics, pneumonic plague is easier to contract and if untreated, has a very high case-fatality ratio. |
| The WHO was informed on Saturday of the outbreak but has not been asked for help. | The WHO was informed on Saturday of the outbreak but has not been asked for help. |
| "When it comes to outbreaks of the plague it's always quite worrying, but it looks like the authorities have got the situation under control," said WHO spokeswoman Vivian Tan. | "When it comes to outbreaks of the plague it's always quite worrying, but it looks like the authorities have got the situation under control," said WHO spokeswoman Vivian Tan. |
| "This area is quite remote and the population is very small so this should make it easier to contain." | "This area is quite remote and the population is very small so this should make it easier to contain." |