|

Air quality hazard warning in Beijing

Since early Jan 2015 Beijing’s Municipal Government has reported an extreme increase in the air quality index in Beijing.  The air quality in all districts and southern suburban areas has reported to bee very unhealthy at a level greater than 200 (201-300 is identified as Very Unhealthy).

What is the cause?  a common cause for in increase in air pollution in major Chinese cities is a result of burning soft coal for heat during the winter.

Traveller’s with lung or heart disease, 70 years of age or older and teenagers or children are at a higher risk of experiencing serious health effects due to the air pollution.   All travelers are likely to experience health effects.   Travellers at higher risk are advised to stay indoors and maintain only light activity, they should avoid outdoor physical activity until air quality has improved.

Similar Posts

  • Last Minute Vacations

    I want a last-minute vacation.  Do I really need vaccinations? Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe Globe and Mail Update Published Monday, Feb. 06, 2012 6:00PM EST  The question I can’t take it anymore: I want a beach vacation – and I want to leave this week, on a last-minute sale to escape the cold. What vaccinations really…

  • Typhoid Fever epidemic throughout Zambia

    A typhoid fever epidemic is currently occurring throughout Zambia.   Risks are higher in impoverished areas outside the capital city of Lusaka.   Cases of typhoid fever in the local population are usually under-reported. Typhoid fever is a serious and potentially fatal infection caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi.  It is spread person to person through contaminated food and water. …

  • Sarcocystosis in Malaysia

    The Center for disease control has received reports of patients with suspected acute muscular sarcocystosis from travelers in March and April 2014 to Tioman Island in Malaysia. Sarcocystosis is spread through food, water and soil contaminated with infected animal feces.  Symptoms occur from two forms of the disease; one causes diarrhea and the other may include…

  • Shingles Vaccine

      It estimated that less than 2 out of 10 Americans aged 60 and older are getting vaccinated against shingles.  Efforts for recommended innoculation are being increased in the US. Merck’s shingles vaccine Zostavax is recommended for all people aged 60 and older, and in 2011 was cleared for usage in all those 50 and older. Shingles becomes…

  • Leptospirosis in Hawaii

    ABSTRACT: Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic illness globally. It has been classified by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as emerging or re-emerging.  Leptospirosis is most frequently recognized in the developing world. It was removed from the U.S. list of nationally reportable infectious diseases in 1995,…