New H1N1 Warden Message (June 1, 2009)

Warden Message
June 1, 2009

This warden message provides U.S. citizens with the latest information regarding human cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza, and it updates the warden message dated May 5, 2009.

Many travelers enter China’s borders each day without difficulty.  With the summer tourist and student season approaching, however, the Chinese government has recommended that travelers from countries with cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including the United States, quarantine themselves upon arrival for seven days. 

Some local authorities are being exceedingly cautious and are imposing mandatory quarantine periods on all American travelers hosted by their institutions.  As implementation of these local policies is decided by Chinese officials and host organizations and may vary by location, you should check frequently with your tour group, host institution or hotel before traveling to China on what procedures will be in effect for you or your group.  You should be aware that foreign travelers, including U.S. citizens, to China are obliged to follow local procedures regarding quarantines and any public health-related measures.

As has also been done in at least 26 other countries/territories (including the USA, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea), China has instituted the following procedures for border authorities to screen for the possibility of influenza among passengers on arriving international flights.  The procedures followed thus far are:

1) Flights arriving from affected countries will be segregated at specific gates and passengers will move through specific channels for Health and Quarantine (H&Q) clearance. 

2) Prior to disembarking from the aircraft, either local health officials or airline staff will take temperature readings of each passenger.  Temperature scanning equipment currently being used does not touch or make contact with the traveler. 

3) Passengers will also be required to complete and submit a health declaration card, which will be provided by the air carrier.  The cards will be collected either on board the aircraft or as part of entry procedures in the arrival terminal.  

4) Passengers may face additional thermal-scanning procedures in the arrival terminal.

5) If there are one or more suspected cases of H1N1 on an arriving flight, the air carrier will be required to report the case to Chinese H&Q prior to the arrival of the flight.  Passengers and crew on the flight will be quarantined in a designated area (e.g., in Beijing, Terminal 3: Concourse D) until H&Q determines what steps to take, which may include simply completing a “Quarantine Card,” undergoing a routine medical exam at the airport, or, in some circumstances, transportation to local hospitals and/or hotels designated for quarantine. 

6) H&Q will implement different procedures for specific passengers with 2009-H1N1 influenza symptoms, which may include observation in a hospital designated to handle H1N1 cases, or quarantine (e.g., in Beijing: Guomen Hotel).  As of June 1, 2009, the official quarantine period was announced to be up to seven days.  As of June 1, 2009 the principal hospitals designated as H1N1 treatment centers were:

-       Beijing:  Ditan Hospital, You'An Hospital, and Peking Union Hospital.
-       Shanghai:  Shanghai Public Health Center, Jinshan District and Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Minghan District
-       Guangzhou: Guangzhou No. 8 Hospital
-       Chengdu:  Huaxi Hospital, People's No. 6 Hospital, and Chengdu No. 4 Hospital.
-       Shenyang:  Shenyang Infectious Disease Hospital.

7) Should you encounter any of the quarantine procedures described above, please e-mail AmcitBeijing@state.gov with your name, passport number, quarantine location and contact details, or call the American Citizen Services office at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm at 86-10-8531-4000. 

The Embassy reminds U.S. citizens that most cases of influenza are not 2009-H1N1 Influenza.  Any questions or concerns about influenza or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional.  Although the Embassy cannot provide medical advice or provide medical services to the public, listings of hospitals and doctors for the five consular districts can be found at the following websites:

Beijing:   http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/acs_health.html
Shanghai:  http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn/medical_facilities.html
Guangzhou:  http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/medical_providers_in_south_china.htm
Chengdu:  http://chengdu.usembassy-china.org.cn/health/_local_doctors.html
Shenyang:  http://shenyang.usembassy-china.org.cn/medical2.html

For further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, please consult the Department of State information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_pandemic.html, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, the U.S. Government pandemic influenza website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html.  For additional travel safety information, please consult the State Department's website at http://www.travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information.  The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.
 
Americans living or traveling in China are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within China.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Embassy can be reached 24 hours per day at 86-10-8531-3000.  The addresses and telephone contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China are at the bottom of this announcement. 

U.S. Embassy Beijing:  Tian Ze Road intersection of An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District.  Telephone number during regular business hours and for after-hours emergencies: 86-10-8531-4000, Email: amcitbeijing@state.gov.  The embassy’s website is beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn. 

U.S. Consulate General Chengdu:  No. 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu 610041, tel. 86-28-8558-3992, Email: consularchengdu@state.gov.  For after hours emergencies, please call 86-1370-800-1422.

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou:  The Consular Section is located at 5th Floor, Tianyu Garden (II phase), 136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510133, tel. (86-20) 8518-7605, Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov.  Guangzhou adoptions Email: GuangzhouA@state.gov.  For after hours emergencies, please call 86-20-8121-8000.

U.S. Consulate General Shanghai:  The Consular Section is located in the Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200041; tel. (86-21) 3217-4650, Email: Shanghaiacs@state.gov.  For after hours emergencies, please call 86-21-6433-3936.

U.S. Consulate General Shenyang:  No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110003; tel. (86-24) 2322-1198, Email: ShenyangACS@state.gov.  For after hours emergencies, please call 86-137-0988-9307.