With swirling rumors about the spread of an infectious disease causing panic among residents of western suburban Qingpu District, the area's Disease Prevention and Control Center yesterday sought to allay fears, ruling out any large-scale infection.
The center did admit that following an outbreak of hepatitis symptoms among three workers at the Minebea Electronics and High-tech Component (Shanghai) Ltd. early this month, it immediately conducted a blood test on all 4,000 staff. Tests confirmed at least two females suffered from hepatitis E, a dangerous infectious disease.
Six other female staff, also believed to be infected, are awaiting further examination, though the cause of the infection has not been traced yet.
The center insisted that all likely patients have been hospitalized at an infectious disease clinic, while a thorough disinfection drive was launched in the company and doctors invited to give talks on hepatitis precaution.
"The disease caused panic among our employees two weeks ago, with nearly 1,000 staff refusing to come to work. The alarm even spread to residents," said a woman from the firm's human resources department named Zhao.
She added the emergency treatment measures have leveled off the situation.
Hepatitis E is an acute hepatitis which spreads through the alimentary canal. Only sporadic hepatitis E cases have been found in Shanghai, according to Dr. Yang Jinlong of the Shanghai Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment Research Center.
(eastday.com July 02, 2002)
