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Facts and Figures

Population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.59%

Birth rate (2006 est.): 13.25 births/1,000 population

Death rate (2006 est.): 6.97 deaths/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate (2006 est.):

  • total: 23.12 deaths/1,000 live births
  • male: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births
  • female: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth (2006 est.):

  • total population: 72.58 years
  • female: 74.46 years
  • male: 70.89 years

Total fertility rate (2006 est.): 1.73 children born/woman

HIV/AIDS
  • adult prevalence rate (2006 est.): 0.1%
  • people living with HIV/AIDS (January 2006): 650,000
  • deaths (2006 est.): 31,000

Literacy (definition: age 15 and over can read and write) (2002 est.):
  • total population: 90.9%
  • male: 95.1%
  • female: 86.5%

General Health and Safety Issues

Those contemplating travel to China should get travel-related health information from the United States' Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Extensive information is available from the WHO's China Profile and its Western Pacific Region Home Page. The following websites provide a useful introduction to general health conditions in the PRC:

General information is also available from the World Bank.

Avian Flu (aka "Bird Flu")

CECC Roundtable: China's Response to Avian Flu: Steps Taken, Challenges Remaining (February 24, 2006)

Statements of Panelists:

Dr. John Clifford Deputy Administrator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services' Veterinary Services program, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ms. Erika Elvander Office of Global Health Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Bates Gill Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies

From the US Centers for Disease Control

From the World Health Organization English Language Sources on Veterinary Sciences Chinese Language Sources

SARS

If you are traveling to China, be sure to check out the traveler alerts on SARS provided by the United States' Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

CECC Topic Paper
To read about how the PRC government's suppression of freedom of expression delayed the response to the spread of SARS, please look at the CECC Topic Paper: Information Control and Self-Censorship in the PRC and the Spread of SARS.

CECC Roundtable: Dangerous Secret: SARS and China's Health Care System (May 12, 2003)
Statements of Panelists:
Gail Henderson, Ph.D. Professor of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Yanzhong Huang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University
Bates Gill, Ph.D Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Written Submissions:
Third Party Resources
You can find general information regarding SARS at the following links: What are the symptoms of SARS?
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control Fact Sheet, January 13, 2004
In general, SARS begins with a fever greater than 100.4f (38c). Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.

How is SARS spread?
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control Fact Sheet, January 13, 2004
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Most cases of SARS have involved people who cared for or lived with someone with SARS, or had direct contact with infectious material (for example, respiratory secretions) from a person who has SARS. Potential ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces. It also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.

What causes SARS?
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control Fact Sheet, January 13, 2004
Scientists at CDC and other laboratories have detected a previously unrecognized corona virus in patients with SARS. The new corona virus is the leading hypothesis for the cause of SARS.



HIV / AIDS

According to the UNAIDS country profile:
  • Estimated number of people living with HIV: 650,000 [390,000-1,100,000]
  • Adults aged 15 to 49 HIV prevalence rate: 0.1 [<0.2%]
  • Women aged 15 and up living with HIV: 180,000 [90,000-310,000] 
  • Deaths due to AIDS: 31,000 [18,000-46,000] 

CECC Roundtable: HIV/AIDS (September 09, 2002)
Statements of Panelists:
Dr. Don des Jarlais, Director of Research, Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, Beth Israel Medical Center (no written statement available, please see the transcript below).
Dr. Joan Kaufman Visiting Scholar, East Asian Legal Studies Program, Harvard Law School.
Dr. Bates Gill Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Transcripts

Third Party Resources
The following Links provide usefull information on AIDS in China:  
WHO Collaborating Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (including HIV / AIDS) In China:
National Center For Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Std) And Lepprosy Control

Address: Institute Of Dermatology Chinese Academy Of Medical Sciences And Peking Union Medical College 12 Jiangwangmiao Street Nanjing 210042 People's Republic Of China
Tel No: (8625) 5411040
Fax No: (8625) 5414477
E-Mail: CAMS@public1.ptt.js.cn
Head of Centre: DR YE SHUNZHANG


 
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The page was last modified on September 11, 2006
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