Qapqal disease

Qapqal disease was a infectious disease among Sibe people in Qapqal, Xinjiang, China. The local endemic outbreaks were first reported in 1958, and they were eradicated soon after the identification of them as cases type A botulism[1].

Identification of Qapqal Disease

After the liberation of 1949, a mysterious plague was noticed to be affecting severy Sibe villages in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County. It was endemic with distinctive epidemic patterns, yet the underlying cause remained unknown for a long period of time[2]. It caused a number of deaths and forced some people to leave the place[3].

In 1958, a team of experts were sent to the area by the Ministry of Health to investigate the cases. The epidemic survey conducted proved that the disease was indeed botulism. According to further researches, the Clostridium botulinum strains isolated were mainly type A, with several cases of type B[2]. The team also discovered that, the source of the botulinum was a local fermented food called mi song hu hu[3]. They promoted the improvement of fermentation techniques among local residents, and thus eliminated the disease.

See also

Reference

  1. ↑ Huang Beibei, ed. (2011-11-12). "The Xibe ethnic minority". People's Daily. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  2. 1 2 Wu, C. R.; Lian, Z. H.; Chen, W. J.; et al. (1958). "Botulism: A report for Qapqal disease". National Medical Journal of China. 44 (10): 932–942.
  3. 1 2 FU, Si-Wu; WANG, Chen-Huai (2008). "An Overview of Type E Botulism in China". Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. 21 (4): 353–356. doi:10.1016/S0895-3988(08)60054-9. ISSN 0895-3988.
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