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Olympic travelers warned - don't kiss chickens

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  • Olympic travelers warned - don't kiss chickens

    From a Montana news service....

    Health Hazards of the Olympic Games this August plus travel to China this summer

    It is expected that some 600,000 visitors will be going to China this summer. In the event that any reader of this column or a friend of a reader is planning such a trip, a few comments about the health hazards in and around Beijing are in order.

    This information is based on material published in the American Medical News, much of which came from Richard V. Lee, M.D., professor of medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, N.Y. Dr. Lee once worked as a medical student and later as a doctor in Chester, Montana, and is regarded by this writer as a very knowledgeable person. The information is not what one might expect, and should be of interest to anyone contemplating travel to north China.

    The primary health risks in and around Beijing are not what one might expect - things have changed a great deal in China. One writer estimated that half the bicycles in the area have been traded in for automobiles. This has resulted in a large number of inexperienced drivers charging about the city. Rogue buses and assorted other vehicles, plus chaotic driving patterns, make every street crossing a real hazard. Lots of people are killed and injured in Chinese city traffic. 140,000 animal bites were reported in Beijing last year. China has the second highest incidence of human rabies of any country in the world. One needs to be very careful about not petting any stray dog (or other animal). In the city the risk of malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, or Japanese encephalitis is almost zero. Bird influenza (H5N1) is embedded in south China and one should avoid kissing any chickens or ducks and avoid markets where live animals are sold.

    The single biggest health risk is probably the poor air quality. A much higher proportion of the population smokes, and virtually no public buildings restrict smoking. The rapid and somewhat unrestricted industrialization of the area has resulted in much worse air pollution than is evident in this country. Both indoors and out the air quality is about the worst in the world. Respiratory troubles will be significant, and for long distance runners most difficult. Wash your hands, keep alert, don't pet stray animals, and one should have a great time in Beijing.

    "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation
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