SEOUL — China is dealing with an outbreak of meningococcal disease — a bacterial disease that can cause meningitis and blood infections — in 11 cities in the Anhui Province in the eastern part of the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Monday, the CDC issued an outbreak notice for people traveling to China, according to a notice from Area II officials this week.

From Dec. 20 to the end of January, 62 cases have been diagnosed, mostly among teens, the CDC reported. Six people have died.

The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are spread through close, direct contact with an infected person that leads to exchange of saliva or respiratory secretions, although infected persons may not always appear to be sick. Early symptoms are sometimes like those of a cold or influenza, with fever and weakness. A painful headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, and a body rash can follow these symptoms, according to the CDC.

World Thinking Day

Camp Zama, Japan, Girl Scouts are hosting a World Thinking Day celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Arnn Elementary School at Sagamihara Housing Area.

The Zama scouts will be joined by troops from Atsugi Naval Air Facility and sister groups from Japan.

World Thinking Day is celebrated each February by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to foster better understanding of people around the world, particularly other Scouts. The event began at a World Conference in 1926.

For the event, Scouts will learn about several foreign countries with facts, songs and food from each location.

The event is open to all registered Girl Scouts. Contact Cindy Streeton at DSN 267-6090 for more information.

Misawa shopping spree

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — AAFES New Car Sales is accepting entries for a $1,000 shopping spree in Misawa’s commissary.

Five contestants’ names will be drawn to compete in a “Price is Right” game Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the commissary, where they’ll have to guess prices of various commissary items, said an Army and Air Force Exchange Service New Car Sales representative. The winner gets the shopping spree, which will be Feb. 19 at 8 a.m.

Entry forms are available at the New Car Sales office next to the base exchange and will be accepted through Thursday.

Call New Car Sales at DSN 222-5402 for more information.

Yokosuka Red Cross sale

The Yokosuka Naval Base chapter of the American Red Cross is sponsoring a sale at the Sullivan’s school gym next week for status-of-forces ID cardholders.

The sale, by Sophie’s Chinese Antiques, will feature furniture and Persian carpets. The sale will run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 20. Deliveries are available.

Road closure

YONGSAN GARRISON — 10th Corps Boulevard will be closed from Tuesday to March 9 near Collier Field House as construction crews continue to build a new heliport, according to Area II’s public affairs office.

The road will be closed from Vaughn Avenue to Teleford extension. Drivers are asked to detour around Lombardo Field, using Vaughn Avenue as a two-way lane.

Additionally, a planned power outage on Saturday for most of South Post will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., one hour earlier than previously scheduled, according to Area II.

Call DPW Roads and Grounds at 738-4168 for more information about these and other road closures.

Uniform shortage

The shortage of woodland battle dress uniforms and accessories at AAFES Pacific military clothing stores could last up to another 60 days, according to an AAFES spokeswoman.

The stores have experienced shortages in all sizes of coats, trousers and caps periodically throughout the past year.

The uniform supplier, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, ran short while producing more desert uniforms for servicemembers deployed in Iraq, according to AAFES.

Marines to use Kadena

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Seventeen Marine aircraft will move to Kadena Air Base for two months while Futenma Marine Corps Air Station repaves its runway.

From Feb. 21 to March 1, 13 KC-130, two UC-35 and two C-12 aircraft will transfer operations, according to Air Force and Marine spokesmen. The repairs are expected to take about two months.

Helicopters will remain at Futenma because they require less runway space, a Marine spokesman said. The U.S. government is to pay for the repaving expenses.

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