China flight systems jammed by pig farm near Harbin airport
(Editor's Note: rumors of illegal traders using drones to spread the African Swine disease to speculate the pork price and reap profit)
A series of flights in and out of Harbin airport complained that the planes’ navigation (GPS) and ADS-B systems were degraded while flying over Zhaozhou, Heilongjiang in late October 2019. The report said that the radio jammers were found in a local pig farm that installed drone jamming devices to prevent criminal gangs from dropping items infected with the African Swine Disease. The navigation systems of commercial aircraft were accidentally affected. The radio jammers from identified pig farms and their owners were ordered to turn in their equipment. No further punishment was imposed.
Chinese state media reported a week before that gangs were exploiting the African swine fever crisis by deliberately spreading the disease by using drones by dropping infected items onto pig farms. The farmers were forced to sell meat cheaply to the gangs who sell it on as healthy stock. The criminals also spread rumors about the presence of the virus to achieve a cheap purchase price.
Pork prices have more than doubled in China as millions of pigs have been slaughtered since the first case of African Swine fever was identified in Shenyang in August 2019.
#Plague #ChinaCrisis #WithChineseCharacteristics
Source: Unwire (02-Jan)
https://unwire.hk/2020/01/02/harbin-airport/fun-tech/
(Editor's Note: rumors of illegal traders using drones to spread the African Swine disease to speculate the pork price and reap profit)
A series of flights in and out of Harbin airport complained that the planes’ navigation (GPS) and ADS-B systems were degraded while flying over Zhaozhou, Heilongjiang in late October 2019. The report said that the radio jammers were found in a local pig farm that installed drone jamming devices to prevent criminal gangs from dropping items infected with the African Swine Disease. The navigation systems of commercial aircraft were accidentally affected. The radio jammers from identified pig farms and their owners were ordered to turn in their equipment. No further punishment was imposed.
Chinese state media reported a week before that gangs were exploiting the African swine fever crisis by deliberately spreading the disease by using drones by dropping infected items onto pig farms. The farmers were forced to sell meat cheaply to the gangs who sell it on as healthy stock. The criminals also spread rumors about the presence of the virus to achieve a cheap purchase price.
Pork prices have more than doubled in China as millions of pigs have been slaughtered since the first case of African Swine fever was identified in Shenyang in August 2019.
#Plague #ChinaCrisis #WithChineseCharacteristics
Source: Unwire (02-Jan)
https://unwire.hk/2020/01/02/harbin-airport/fun-tech/
Unwire.hk
飛機 GPS 信號在哈爾濱受干擾 調查發現與中國豬瘟有關
在 2019年 10 月底，許多飛機在接近中國哈爾濱機場附近區域時，GPS 信號以及 ADS-B （英語：Au […]
Swine Fever, Unknown pneumonia and O-type foot-and-mouth Disease Continue to Plague China
After the outbreak of African Swine Fever in China in August 2018 which lasted through the entire year in 2019, the outbreak of bubonic plague and unknown pneumonia (In WuHan) one after another in 2019 and 2020.
On January 7, the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced on Internet that an outbreak of O-type foot-and-mouth disease was found in one batch of imported cows in Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang , which raised more concerns. In the same batch, 2 cows were infected and therefore the whole batch was culled. It was emphasized by the officials that the outbreak had been effectively addressed.
Source: Liberty Times
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3033281
#Jan8 #footandmouthdisease #plague #WuhanPneumonia
After the outbreak of African Swine Fever in China in August 2018 which lasted through the entire year in 2019, the outbreak of bubonic plague and unknown pneumonia (In WuHan) one after another in 2019 and 2020.
On January 7, the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced on Internet that an outbreak of O-type foot-and-mouth disease was found in one batch of imported cows in Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang , which raised more concerns. In the same batch, 2 cows were infected and therefore the whole batch was culled. It was emphasized by the officials that the outbreak had been effectively addressed.
Source: Liberty Times
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3033281
#Jan8 #footandmouthdisease #plague #WuhanPneumonia
Pro-Beijing Party Calls for a $6.5 Billion Fund for HK to Do a Better Cleaning Job
The Business and Professionals Alliance, a pro-Beijing party said that to counter the threat of various diseases, the SAR government needed a HK$6.5 billion fund to clean up the city targeting rodent and mosquito controls, wet markets upgrades, and repair works for leaking air conditioners.
The party challenged existing control measures in the city being costly and inefficient, and stated that lessons in this regard could be learned from Guangdong, citing the usage of robotics as an example, and Shenzhen in control of rodent infestations.
Source : RTHK
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1501889-20200109.htm?spTabChangeable=0
#9Jan #Plague #RodentInfestations #ChinaPropaganda
The Business and Professionals Alliance, a pro-Beijing party said that to counter the threat of various diseases, the SAR government needed a HK$6.5 billion fund to clean up the city targeting rodent and mosquito controls, wet markets upgrades, and repair works for leaking air conditioners.
The party challenged existing control measures in the city being costly and inefficient, and stated that lessons in this regard could be learned from Guangdong, citing the usage of robotics as an example, and Shenzhen in control of rodent infestations.
Source : RTHK
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1501889-20200109.htm?spTabChangeable=0
#9Jan #Plague #RodentInfestations #ChinaPropaganda
news.rthk.hk
'HK can learn a lot from the mainland on hygiene'
A pro-Beijing party said on Thursday that Hong Kong is lagging behind the mainland when it comes to public hygiene, as it called for the SAR to set up a HK$6.5 billion fund to clean up the city. The Business and Professionals Alliance (BPA) said that to counter…
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
[Pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China] Patients isolated in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, all doctors obligated to cancel time off work
An outbreak of an unknown pneumonia virus occurred in Wuhan, China. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) were ruled out as unrelated to the disease. On 11/Jan, officials said the new coronavirus is believed to be a family of SARS, which killed 8,098 people worldwide. Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market, the suspected source of the outbreak, closed for sanitation since 01/Jan.
Infected patients were isolated for treatment at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. Reporters in China held an in-depth investigation of patients’ daily lives and medical treatments and interviewed some of their relatives.
[Pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China] Patients isolated in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, all doctors obligated to cancel time off work
An outbreak of an unknown pneumonia virus occurred in Wuhan, China. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) were ruled out as unrelated to the disease. On 11/Jan, officials said the new coronavirus is believed to be a family of SARS, which killed 8,098 people worldwide. Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market, the suspected source of the outbreak, closed for sanitation since 01/Jan.
Infected patients were isolated for treatment at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. Reporters in China held an in-depth investigation of patients’ daily lives and medical treatments and interviewed some of their relatives.
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
Story 1 of 5) Frozen foods store employee from Huanan Seafood Market
Miss Huang’s family came from Northeast China and have been living in Wuhan for over 20 years. Her brother works at a frozen foods store in Huanan Seafood Market, selling poultry and fish. At 3 am every day, work starts by transporting goods from Baishazhou to his workplace for resale. He gets off work at 5:30 pm.
“My brother earns 5,000 RMB (approx. 718 USD) a month and works more than 12 hours a day,” Miss Huang said that his hands have become stiff and numb from carrying frozen goods. “The work environment is unhygienic; I had to cover my nose whenever I visited the market. Despite this, business thrives due to low prices.”
Huang said her brother was transferred from Wuhan Tongji Hospital to Jinyintan Hospital at around 2 pm on Dec 31. He was placed on the 4th floor of the latter’s South wing. Medical staff at Jinyintan asked all patients transferred there if they worked at, visited or consumed seafood from Huanan Seafood Market.
Huang’s brother became febrile around Dec 16 or 17. He sought treatment 8 days later for persistent fever over 40°C and was admitted to Wuhan No.6 Hospital. Huang said, “my brother was admitted on Dec 24, 2019, and his CT scan showed a white shadow on ⅓ of his lungs. It spread to ⅔ on Dec 27. Staff requested that he be transferred to the other hospital immediately.”
Seven bottles of medication, including albumin, were administered intravenously at the hospital daily. Apart from personal effects for her brother and neighbouring patients, Huang’s medical expenses totalled 43,000 RMB (6180 USD).
“My brother is 44 and has been renting a house. My sister and I are the ones helping with medical expenses as my brother does not have enough savings.” According to the investigation, most patients in Jinyintan Hospital are labourers who have to borrow money from many people to pay for medical expenses.
Story 1 of 5) Frozen foods store employee from Huanan Seafood Market
Miss Huang’s family came from Northeast China and have been living in Wuhan for over 20 years. Her brother works at a frozen foods store in Huanan Seafood Market, selling poultry and fish. At 3 am every day, work starts by transporting goods from Baishazhou to his workplace for resale. He gets off work at 5:30 pm.
“My brother earns 5,000 RMB (approx. 718 USD) a month and works more than 12 hours a day,” Miss Huang said that his hands have become stiff and numb from carrying frozen goods. “The work environment is unhygienic; I had to cover my nose whenever I visited the market. Despite this, business thrives due to low prices.”
Huang said her brother was transferred from Wuhan Tongji Hospital to Jinyintan Hospital at around 2 pm on Dec 31. He was placed on the 4th floor of the latter’s South wing. Medical staff at Jinyintan asked all patients transferred there if they worked at, visited or consumed seafood from Huanan Seafood Market.
Huang’s brother became febrile around Dec 16 or 17. He sought treatment 8 days later for persistent fever over 40°C and was admitted to Wuhan No.6 Hospital. Huang said, “my brother was admitted on Dec 24, 2019, and his CT scan showed a white shadow on ⅓ of his lungs. It spread to ⅔ on Dec 27. Staff requested that he be transferred to the other hospital immediately.”
Seven bottles of medication, including albumin, were administered intravenously at the hospital daily. Apart from personal effects for her brother and neighbouring patients, Huang’s medical expenses totalled 43,000 RMB (6180 USD).
“My brother is 44 and has been renting a house. My sister and I are the ones helping with medical expenses as my brother does not have enough savings.” According to the investigation, most patients in Jinyintan Hospital are labourers who have to borrow money from many people to pay for medical expenses.
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
Story 2 of 5) Market Pork Vendor
Ms. W and her 52-year old husband have been selling pork for over three decades and started working in Huanan Seafood Market in recent years. The market’s current closure and her husband’s hospitalisation has not stopped Ms. W from working. She spent her spare time visiting her husband, bringing him food. “Since the market is closed, some merchandisers cannot distribute their goods. I have been waking up at midnight these days to pick up goods for delivery to hotels,” she said.
She recalled, “my husband was transferred to Jinyintan Hospital on Dec 31. His fever was not that high, around 38°C, but his condition did not improve. The fever persisted even after transferring to Jinyintan Hospital.” Ms. W claimed that symptoms of cold and fever began around Christmas and her husband sought treatment at Wuhan Central Hospital. When the staff discovered that he worked at a seafood market, they asked him to visit Jinyintan Hospital.
“My husband was initially on the 6th floor. He was then moved to the 4th floor when the staff found out he worked at Huanan Seafood Market.” Ms. W pointed out that most patients from there stayed on the 4th floor. After 3 days of hospitalisation, Ms. W prepaid RMB 6000 (USD 860) for her husband’s stay.
Ms. W mentioned that most infected employees were from the western side of Huanan Seafood Market, where mostly seafood and frozen poultry were sold; the eastern side, which mainly sold pork, saw less infected cases. “The goods sold in the market are the same in the entire country,” said Ms. W. She was unsure if the contagion was related to incoming products. She reported catching a fever a few days after her husband fell ill, but recovered after vaccination.
Ms. W said a fire occurred on the western side of the market about 2 months ago. A dried goods shop caught fire at 2:30 am and was not put out until 7 am. “At the time, the dried spices like chili powder were burning and the smoke was suffocating. The 11th and 12th streets in the western area were completely burnt.”
Story 2 of 5) Market Pork Vendor
Ms. W and her 52-year old husband have been selling pork for over three decades and started working in Huanan Seafood Market in recent years. The market’s current closure and her husband’s hospitalisation has not stopped Ms. W from working. She spent her spare time visiting her husband, bringing him food. “Since the market is closed, some merchandisers cannot distribute their goods. I have been waking up at midnight these days to pick up goods for delivery to hotels,” she said.
She recalled, “my husband was transferred to Jinyintan Hospital on Dec 31. His fever was not that high, around 38°C, but his condition did not improve. The fever persisted even after transferring to Jinyintan Hospital.” Ms. W claimed that symptoms of cold and fever began around Christmas and her husband sought treatment at Wuhan Central Hospital. When the staff discovered that he worked at a seafood market, they asked him to visit Jinyintan Hospital.
“My husband was initially on the 6th floor. He was then moved to the 4th floor when the staff found out he worked at Huanan Seafood Market.” Ms. W pointed out that most patients from there stayed on the 4th floor. After 3 days of hospitalisation, Ms. W prepaid RMB 6000 (USD 860) for her husband’s stay.
Ms. W mentioned that most infected employees were from the western side of Huanan Seafood Market, where mostly seafood and frozen poultry were sold; the eastern side, which mainly sold pork, saw less infected cases. “The goods sold in the market are the same in the entire country,” said Ms. W. She was unsure if the contagion was related to incoming products. She reported catching a fever a few days after her husband fell ill, but recovered after vaccination.
Ms. W said a fire occurred on the western side of the market about 2 months ago. A dried goods shop caught fire at 2:30 am and was not put out until 7 am. “At the time, the dried spices like chili powder were burning and the smoke was suffocating. The 11th and 12th streets in the western area were completely burnt.”
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
Story 3 of 5) A hotel Chef who Shopped for Groceries in the Market
Another relative’s husband worked as a hotel chef in Wuhan. He usually visited Huanan Seafood Market every few days, sometimes going daily when business was good. He caught a fever on Dec 23 and went to the clinic 3 days later. On the fourth day, tests showed a drop in white blood cell count and his fever reached 41°C. Body temperature did not drop significantly during the course of treatment.
On Jan 1, his body temperature was around 40°C. He was transferred to the 6th floor of Jinyintan Hospital after receiving an injection. He did not show apparent signs of fever, but his face was jaundiced because he had not been eating well the past week. “Most beds were vacant right before his arrival; they did not even have pillowcases ready. Two patients were originally in the ward but after paying the hospital fee, there were five or six patients. Most patients on the 4th floor had some connection with Huanan Seafood Market.” The relative said they were under great psychological pressure and hoped that the government could subsidise a portion of the medical expenses.
Story 3 of 5) A hotel Chef who Shopped for Groceries in the Market
Another relative’s husband worked as a hotel chef in Wuhan. He usually visited Huanan Seafood Market every few days, sometimes going daily when business was good. He caught a fever on Dec 23 and went to the clinic 3 days later. On the fourth day, tests showed a drop in white blood cell count and his fever reached 41°C. Body temperature did not drop significantly during the course of treatment.
On Jan 1, his body temperature was around 40°C. He was transferred to the 6th floor of Jinyintan Hospital after receiving an injection. He did not show apparent signs of fever, but his face was jaundiced because he had not been eating well the past week. “Most beds were vacant right before his arrival; they did not even have pillowcases ready. Two patients were originally in the ward but after paying the hospital fee, there were five or six patients. Most patients on the 4th floor had some connection with Huanan Seafood Market.” The relative said they were under great psychological pressure and hoped that the government could subsidise a portion of the medical expenses.
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
Story 4 of 5) A Hotel Supplies Redistributor who Bought Food from the Market
A relative of Ms. Cheng said that her 69-year old husband was a hotel supplies redistributor. He purchased food from Huanan Seafood Market nearly every day for delivery to Jingzhou. “A wholesale foodservice distributor supplies seafood hotels in Jingzhou in bulk.”
Ms. Cheng said her husband’s fever started on Dec 12. It was originally thought that he had influenza so his only treatment was intravenous saline. When the fever did not subside, he was sent to Wuhan Youfu Hospital for phlebotomy; he did not show normal blood plasma values. He was then hospitalised at Wuhan No. 11 Hospital for 7 days with no improvements, showing symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision and weakness. He was transferred yet again, this time to the Department of Respiratory Medicine Respiratory at Tongji Hospital, where the fever persisted but without cough.
This hospital reported, “The initial diagnosis was severe viral pneumonia, stage 2 hypertension, critical condition. The patient was admitted for intermittent fever and chills. Adenovirus is suspected, not ruling out cryptogenic organising pneumonia. Continue monitoring post-treatment.” The patient’s relative said that he no longer showed obvious signs of fever after treatment and was to be discharged. However, he was sent to Jinyintan Hospital and is currently staying on the 4th floor.
Story 4 of 5) A Hotel Supplies Redistributor who Bought Food from the Market
A relative of Ms. Cheng said that her 69-year old husband was a hotel supplies redistributor. He purchased food from Huanan Seafood Market nearly every day for delivery to Jingzhou. “A wholesale foodservice distributor supplies seafood hotels in Jingzhou in bulk.”
Ms. Cheng said her husband’s fever started on Dec 12. It was originally thought that he had influenza so his only treatment was intravenous saline. When the fever did not subside, he was sent to Wuhan Youfu Hospital for phlebotomy; he did not show normal blood plasma values. He was then hospitalised at Wuhan No. 11 Hospital for 7 days with no improvements, showing symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision and weakness. He was transferred yet again, this time to the Department of Respiratory Medicine Respiratory at Tongji Hospital, where the fever persisted but without cough.
This hospital reported, “The initial diagnosis was severe viral pneumonia, stage 2 hypertension, critical condition. The patient was admitted for intermittent fever and chills. Adenovirus is suspected, not ruling out cryptogenic organising pneumonia. Continue monitoring post-treatment.” The patient’s relative said that he no longer showed obvious signs of fever after treatment and was to be discharged. However, he was sent to Jinyintan Hospital and is currently staying on the 4th floor.
#WuhanPneumonia #Plague
Story 5 of 5) A Recent Graduate Employed at a Chinese Medicine Shop near the Market
The mother of a 23-year-old male patient, Mr. Lau, said they were from the rural Huangpi District in Wuhan. After graduating, Lau worked in sales for a Chinese medicine company near Hankou Railway Station. His illness deeply affected his entire family.
His mother said, “On Dec 24, my son got sick with a headache, dizziness and shortness of breath. I asked him to take sick leave from work and sent him to the hospital, where he received injections for two days. He intended to resume working on the third day but was still unwell; an injection from the clinic downstairs did not help. On Jan 1, his body temperature went up to 38-39°C and would not come down. He could not even walk so we sent him to the hospital affiliated with Tongji Medical College for emergency care. He was transferred to the 6th floor of Jinyintan Hospital on Jan 2.”
A CT chest scan from Wuhan Tongji Hospital showed “multiple patches of high attenuation and ground-glass opacity, with thickening around the fissures of some pulmonary lobules. Considering the possibility of pathological changes, continue monitoring post-treatment.”
“My son is very sick and his sister has to stay in the hospital to take care of him. She cannot leave until he is properly diagnosed and ready for discharge,” said Lau’s mother. “When he received emergency care at Wuhan Union Hospital, I knelt and begged the doctor to save my son. He is only 23 and had just graduated from university. He receives a monthly salary of a few thousand dollars and rents an apartment in downtown Wuhan. We are rural people and do not have a lot of money. The medical expenses have not been confirmed so we have no idea how much we spent.”
Lau was transferred to the Influenza Department of Jinyintan Hospital. His mother said, “His father and I went to the hospital today. The staff only told us his bed number but did not allow us to visit him. We had to get them to take the things we brought for him. My daughter said he was getting better but when we called him on the phone, he still had shortness of breath. He coughed a lot and could not take deep breaths.”
Adapted from Apple Daily (06-Jan)
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/china/realtime/article/20200106/60454767
Story 5 of 5) A Recent Graduate Employed at a Chinese Medicine Shop near the Market
The mother of a 23-year-old male patient, Mr. Lau, said they were from the rural Huangpi District in Wuhan. After graduating, Lau worked in sales for a Chinese medicine company near Hankou Railway Station. His illness deeply affected his entire family.
His mother said, “On Dec 24, my son got sick with a headache, dizziness and shortness of breath. I asked him to take sick leave from work and sent him to the hospital, where he received injections for two days. He intended to resume working on the third day but was still unwell; an injection from the clinic downstairs did not help. On Jan 1, his body temperature went up to 38-39°C and would not come down. He could not even walk so we sent him to the hospital affiliated with Tongji Medical College for emergency care. He was transferred to the 6th floor of Jinyintan Hospital on Jan 2.”
A CT chest scan from Wuhan Tongji Hospital showed “multiple patches of high attenuation and ground-glass opacity, with thickening around the fissures of some pulmonary lobules. Considering the possibility of pathological changes, continue monitoring post-treatment.”
“My son is very sick and his sister has to stay in the hospital to take care of him. She cannot leave until he is properly diagnosed and ready for discharge,” said Lau’s mother. “When he received emergency care at Wuhan Union Hospital, I knelt and begged the doctor to save my son. He is only 23 and had just graduated from university. He receives a monthly salary of a few thousand dollars and rents an apartment in downtown Wuhan. We are rural people and do not have a lot of money. The medical expenses have not been confirmed so we have no idea how much we spent.”
Lau was transferred to the Influenza Department of Jinyintan Hospital. His mother said, “His father and I went to the hospital today. The staff only told us his bed number but did not allow us to visit him. We had to get them to take the things we brought for him. My daughter said he was getting better but when we called him on the phone, he still had shortness of breath. He coughed a lot and could not take deep breaths.”
Adapted from Apple Daily (06-Jan)
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/china/realtime/article/20200106/60454767