Seven percent of overseas citizens applying for residence permits in Shanghai during an 18-month period ending in June were found to carry infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis or HIV during their mandatory health inspections, the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center reported yesterday.
The center reported that 1,903 of the 27,045 people tested during the period were carrying some infectious disease.
Venereal diseases are becoming more common, according to the center, noting that it had found 101 people infected with various forms of VD during the first half of this year - an increase of 74 percent over the same period of last year.
Hepatitis remains one of the more common diseases found by the center, with 248 people detected carrying the disease during the first half of the year - about the same number as last year.
Seventeen people were found carrying HIV during the first half of the year, meaning they weren't allowed to stay in the country. Those found carrying other infectious diseases can stay in China, but they must undergo medical treatment at the center to cure the problem.
(eastday.com August 20, 2002)
