Patient pleads with media to leave him alone

By Liang Qiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-22 08:29

GUANGZHOU: Being in the spotlight has begun to irritate Yang Qinquan, the city's first confirmed A(H1N1) virus carrier.

"I am a victim of a disease, not a criminal," Yang, 59, said on the telephone Thursday.

The Guangzhou-based entrepreneur, who was confirmed to have contracted the H1N1 virus on Monday morning, said the media have invaded his privacy.

"My life inside the hospital is being monitored by journalists. They have even printed the name of my company and my income Even my family hasn't been spared.

"The situation is so bad that I can't manage to sleep," he said.

Yang had gone on a trip to the US and Canada and flew via the Republic of Korea to Hong Kong, where he boarded a train to Guangzhou on May 15.

It was on the train that he developed fever, coupled with a sore throat and blocked nose. The Guangzhou No 8 Hospital confirmed on Monday Yang was suffering from the flu.

Yang said instead of focusing on his disease and recovery, the media were busy reporting that he was a "successful entrepreneur from Foshan city, running a company that produces accessories and feed for aquatic animals and fish".

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The media reported that Yang was the president of the Guangdong provincial aquatic animals' industry association and a former member of Liwan district committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Guangzhou.

"Whether I am a rich man or a poor man is completely unrelated to the issue at hand - the disease, and how to prevent it from spreading," he said.

"The press also printed that I was going to migrate to Canada. Now how is that relevant to the issue?" he asked.

"I started getting calls from all my friends, relatives and business partners asking me if it was true that I was shifting to Canada.

"It's my personal life. I don't want to make it public. I don't want it written about. I am not a celebrity."

Yang added that journalists have been hounding his family with phone calls to find out "more personal details" about his life.

"I am tired of all the questions. And I feel unsafe," he said.

Yang said it was "ridiculous" that the hospital staff had installed a surveillance camera in his room, which reporters and cameramen were allowed to monitor.

Yu Dewen, spokesman for the Guangdong health department, said: "We know of the problems Yang is facing and have tried to persuade journalists not to bother him or his family."

Yang underwent another pharyngeal swab specimen test Thursday. Yu said if the test results are negative, he will be discharged from the hospital today. Yang was to be discharged Thursday but a last-minute test showed he was still H1N1 positive.

41 students develop fever

A school in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region was closed Thursday after 41 students in a middle school in the city of Ulan Qab developed fever.

The Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention is testing blood samples collected from the sick students to rule out the A(H1N1) flu. The results are pending by press time.

There is no word on how long the No 2 Middle School, in Qahar Youyi Rear Banner, will remain closed.

Xinhua contributed to the story