Original title: Customs strictly prevent the introduction of acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown cause
The reporter learned from the General Administration of Customs that in response to reports of unexplained acute severe hepatitis cases in children in many countries around the world, the General Administration of Customs has made arrangements for health and quarantine related work at customs ports across the country to prevent the spread of the epidemic into my country.
According to the World Health Organization, as of May 1, 20 countries around the world have reported at least 228 cases and 50 suspected cases of acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown etiology. Among them, the epidemic in Europe has spread to 14 countries, and the trend of spread is obvious. Cases have also been found in the Americas, Western Pacific and Southeast Asian countries. The age of the cases was mainly distributed between 1 and 16 years old.
The customs gives full play to the role of the global epidemic monitoring network, collects information on the international and domestic acute severe hepatitis epidemic of unknown cause on a daily basis, and pays close attention to the WHO notification and the development of the epidemic situation in the countries/regions that have reported cases, as well as the public health response measures that have been taken. The follow-up risk assessment work provides important data support.
According to the global epidemic monitoring situation, the General Administration of Customs organized experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the fields of infectious disease surveillance and early warning, pathogenic biology, and experts from the customs system to carry out targeted risk assessments to assess the risk of unexplained acute severe hepatitis cases imported into my country, and to formulate Port prevention and control measures provide a scientific basis.
The General Administration of Customs requires customs across the country to strengthen quarantine inspections such as health declaration, temperature monitoring, and medical inspections for inbound passengers from countries/regions with case reports. Passengers, especially children, should undergo medical screening according to the prescribed procedures. After medical investigation, passengers suspected of having acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown cause should be promptly transferred to designated medical institutions for further diagnosis and treatment, and follow-up should be done.
The customs strengthens communication with local departments of foreign affairs, commerce, health, civil aviation, tourism, education, etc., pays close attention to epidemic information, strengthens multi-departmental joint prevention and control, prevents the introduction of the epidemic, and strictly prevents the superimposed risks of the epidemic.
The customs reminded that the symptoms of acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown cause include jaundice and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. On the way of entry and exit, if you have symptoms of discomfort, you should promptly and truthfully inform the flight attendant on the vehicle, and cooperate with you to protect yourself. Inbound and outbound passengers, especially children, have gastrointestinal symptoms and jaundice, please declare to the customs in time, so as to obtain diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. WHO recommends that thorough hand washing, including supervising children, can help reduce the spread of many common infections. (Reporter Zhang Yi)