To American Citizens in the Beijing Consular District

SARS In Asia: Update as of April 9 2003

MEDEVAC. At the present time it is unclear if private air evacuation services will be available to American citizens resident in China who develop a SARS infection.

The following information was provided to Embassy employees and their family members regarding the SARS situation in Beijing and China. We will continue to provide similar updates as further information regarding SARS is received and as the situation develops.

AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAL FACILITIES. Beijing United Family Hospital (BUFH) remains the facility of first choice for treatment of patients with SARS-like symptoms. BUFH Management is confident that the hospital can retain a patient with SARS symptoms as long as the patient responds to medicine and other treatment. However, if a patient has a history of possible exposure to a SARS-infected person and does not respond to standard treatment, and is, therefore, more strongly suspected of being infected with SARS, Chinese authorities would require that the patient be transferred to a facility specifically designated for the treatment of SARS patients, most likely at either Youdian Hospital (associated with Beijing Union Medical College) or Ditan Hospital. These hospitals are generally considered by Western and Chinese practitioners to be among the best in China, with considerable experience in treating respiratory diseases and a good record on hygiene, needle safety and other concerns.

FINNISH CITIZEN DIES. As reported in the Chinese press, a Finnish citizen died of SARS at Ditan Hospital early Sunday morning, April 6. This individual normally lived in Geneva and was visiting Beijing after having stopped in Bangkok for several days. It is unknown where and how he contracted SARS. The deceased individual stayed in a hotel in Beijing, but visited several times the offices of the International Labor Organization, which is in Tai Yuan diplomatic compound. As a precautionary measure, the International School of Beijing requested that individuals who live at that compound and attend the school voluntarily quarantine themselves for 10 days to ensure that they are not affected. Additionally, it is known that the deceased Finn sought medical attention at the International Medical Center at the Lufthansa Center prior to being admitted to Ditan Hospital. The IMC has subsequently closed temporarily after one its nursing staff developed SARS-like symptoms.

CANADIAN CITIZEN RECOVERS. A Canadian citizen, who was previously diagnosed as possibly having SARS and was treated at Ditan Hospital, is recovering. We have been advised that he is likely to be released from the hospital today, April 9.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. The Embassy is keeping a close watch on attendance figures at the major international schools in Beijing. ISB, WAB and BISS all report attendance figures more or less normal, with absentee rates in the 5-10% range. Normal absentee rates at the schools are reported as approximately 5%.

TESTING FOR SARS. Work by medical professionals around the world continues in an effort to identify a reliable test for determining the presence of SARS. Although several tests now exist that can determine post facto if a patient has had SARS, there is as yet no reliable test to tell whether an individual has SARS during the early stages of the disease. Medical facilities, therefore, continue to rely on clinical evaluation, which includes the following factors in making a diagnosis: a) exposure to a SARS patient; b) presence of fever; c) symptoms such as coughing, breathing difficulties, etc.; d) blood results and/or e) x-ray results.

BEIJING FIGURES: Official data as of April 8 reported 19 SARS cases and 4 deaths in Beijing. The only confirmed expat cases are the Finnish citizen who died and the Canadian who is about to be released from hospital. There appear to be a number of suspected, but unconfirmed, cases being treated in quarantine conditions at the designated infectious disease hospitals in the city.