CHINESE HEALTHCARE
Vaccinations
| Special Precautions | |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria | Yes |
| Hepatitis A | Yes |
| Malaria | Sometimes |
| Rabies | Yes |
| Tetanus | Yes |
| Typhoid | Yes |
| Yellow Fever | No* |
|
Inoculation
regulations
can
change
at
short
notice.
Please
take
medical
advice
in
the
case
of
doubt.
Where
'Sometimes'
appears
in
the
table
above,
precautions
may
be
required,
depending
on
the
season
and
region
visited.
|
|
Food and Drink
All water used for drinking, brushing teeth or freezing should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Be especially careful when eating at small street-side stalls or restaurants where standards of hygiene may not be high. Pork, salad, scallops, snails and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other Risks
Vaccinations against tuberculosis and Japanese encephalitis are sometimes advised. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic in the central Yangtze river basin. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Hepatitis E is prevalent in northeastern and northwestern China and hepatitis B is highly endemic. Sporadic outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) have resulted in a small number of human deaths. Rabies is present. If bitten, medical advice should be sought immediately. There are occasional outbreaks of dengue fever.
Health Care
Medical services tend to be offered through local hospitals rather than private clinics. Costs at local hospitals are low and standards vary. Medical facilities in international hospitals are excellent and many common drugs are available over the counter. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments are also used widely in China, such as acupuncture, meridian massage, cupping and herbal medications. Medical insurance is strongly advised.