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The Central Committee on Infectious Diseases of the Hospital Authority (HA) held a special meeting this (Thursday, 6 July) afternoon to review the management of Noroviral infection in public hospitals and the latest situation, and also formulate the measures for the way ahead.
The Director (Professional Services & Operation) of HA, Dr Cheung Wai-lun, said the Noroviral infection in public hospitals is slowing down as there is no reported new outbreak or infection case in the wards under surveillance in the past three days, including today (6 July).
"The Committee decided to implement a 10-day Enhanced Surveillance Programme from tomorrow (7 July) for patients admitted to public hospitals with acute diarrhoea and/or vomiting symptoms. The objective is to monitor the activity of Norovirus among newly admitted patients and facilitate follow-up management of such patients. Under the programme, all newly admitted patients to public hospitals with acute diarrhoea and/or vomiting will be arranged for test for Norovirus. Furthermore, new patients with obvious symptoms of diarrhea and/or vomiting will be isolated early for effective infection control. A review will be conducted at the end of the programme on 16 July.蒅
According to Dr Cheung, public hospitals will continue to maintain high alertness for Noroviral infection. Various infection control measures have already been stepped up in the all the hospitals. These include the followings:
* Maintain high clinical alertness to identify symptomatic patients and early isolation of symptomatic patients for treatment
* Staff members with symptoms should refrain from work and seek medical advice
* Prompt and wide area cleansing of vomitus and excreta
* Stop visiting to wards that are closed due to Norovirus outbreak. Special permission will be considered on compassionate ground
* Provide hand washing/hand rub facilities for the general public coming in and leaving public hospitals
* HA Head Office will pass updated information on infection situation to all hospital clusters management and infection control teams, which would be accessed by frontline hospital staff
Ends/Thursday, July 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:03
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