The Ministry of Health today released information on public health emergencies around the country in the month of September 2006.

A total of 264 public health emergencies were reported in 31 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities), including one Grade II (where more than five deaths or serious injury cases occur), 30 Grade III (more than three), and 233 Grade IV (more than one).

A total of 11,109 cases of infection were reported, including 53 deaths.

Compared with August, the number of emergencies and deaths decreased by 5.4 percent and 73.8 percent respectively. Infections increased by 169.1 percent.

The number of emergencies and infections rose by 32.0 percent and 30.9 percent year-on-year respectively, while the number of deaths fell by 22.1 percent. The year-on-year increase in the number of emergencies and reported infections was as a result of a rise in food poisoning and infectious diseases cases, which made up the majority of reported emergencies. Of the total, infectious diseases accounted for 59 percent of emergencies, representing 61 percent of infections and 54 percent of deaths; food poisoning accounted for 31 percent of emergencies, representing 26 percent of infections and 34 percent of deaths.

Grade IV emergencies accounted for 88.2 percent of the total number of emergencies.

Meningitis B, bacillary dysentery, epidemic parotitis and other outbreaks accounted for 56 percent of the total number of infectious diseases cases, and 69 percent of infections. Deaths caused by Meningitis B accounted for 79 percent of the total. Food poisoning occurring mainly in homes and in schools accounted for 16 percent and 45 percent respectively. Further, 45 percent of food poisoning infections were caused by contamination by bacillus proteus and other microbes.

(News Office,? Ministry of Health, October 12, 2006)