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6 US high schoolers hospitalized for H1N1 flu in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-29 13:40

ZHENGZHOU: Six American high schoolers attending a Chinese Bridge summer camp have been hospitalized for A/H1N1 at a hospital in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, according to a health department spokesman Wednesday.

Zhou Yong, chief of the publicity office of Henan Provincial Health Department, said Wednesday that three of the American students -- Walter Gordon Moczygemba, Dominika Carroll (female) and Rawly Lyle -- been doing fine after having been given medication at the Zhengzhou No. 6 People's Hospital.

Nicholas Phillips, leader of the summer camp, confirmed in a phone call with Xinhua Wednesday that three more students were also diagnosed with A(H1N1). The three new patients, who were identified as Mackenzie Kriezer (female), Kellen Haverman, Matthew Schulenberg, were transferred from a local hospital in Dengfeng to Zhengzhou No.6 People's Hospital for treatment.

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Chinese Bridge summer camp was jointly organized by Hanban, an organization affiliated to the Chinese Ministry of Education with the mission to promote Chinese teaching overseas, and Confucius Class at St. Mary's School in Medfort, Oregon, US. The summer camp has 71 members, including students and chaperones. Nicholas Phillips is the assistant director of Confucius Class at St. Mary's School.

According to a schedule posted on the Web site of the American school, the campers arrived in Beijing on July 15. They will depart Zhengzhou for the United Unites on July 31.

Zhou confirmed that the American campers flew from Beijing to Henan and arrived in Zhengzhou Saturday afternoon. They visited Dengfeng, where the famed Shaolin Temple is located, and Kaifeng, a historical city.

Moczygemba showed fever Sunday and was diagnosed with A(H1N1) flu the next day. He was immediately isolated for medical treatment. Carroll and Lyle were also hospitalized.

The other campers were allowed to continue to travel around Henan as long as they adopt protective measures as required, such as wearing face masks. Health department workers of Zhengzhou City only carried out sporadic sample tests on the campers, according to Zhou.