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June 18, 2003
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
Experts Sent in as Encephalitis B Hits
Guangdong
South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com)
(06/17/03) P. 4; Ying, Leu Siew
In order to implement control and prevention
measures following an outbreak of encephalitis B in Chinas Guangdong province,
experts are traveling to the region. Although the disease is treatable, the
outbreak currently includes three confirmed cases, more than 20 suspected cases,
and one death. The mosquito-borne illness causes fever, headache, vomiting, and
fatigue. The recent outbreak has been attributed to poor sanitary conditions
and lack of awareness about or funds for the encephalitis vaccine. Some people
are too poor to get their children vaccinated or they do not see the need to do
so, noted one health official. Some people do not complete the full program
of vaccination.
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"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
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