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The four hospitalised students of a kindergarten which started a one-week class suspension today (April 12) were found to have infected with adenoviruses, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today.
He said laboratory test results on their nasal pharyngeal aspirates yielded positive result to adenovirus, a virus most commonly causing respiratory and gastroenteritis illnesses.
The students, comprising two males and two females aged from four to six, are still in hospitals in stable condition.
Their school, HKFYG Ching Lok Kindergarten (Yau Ma Tei), was advised by CHP to suspend classes for a week from today to next Friday (April 18) for thorough cleansing and disinfection because of an increased number of students and staff who reported sick yesterday.
The CHP spokesman said, ˇ°Adenovirus is a group of viruses that commonly cause viral infection in children. The symptoms may vary from respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat to gastroenteritis illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhoeas. There may be associated conjunctivitis. "
ˇ°Adenovirus infection is usually transmitted by direct contact or fecal-oral transmission. It can occur throughtout the year,ˇ± he said.
The spokesman said while most infections were mild and required no therapy or only symptomatic treatment, strict attention to good hygiene practises was effective for preventing adenovirus-associated disease.
He advised members of the public to: -
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoid smoking;
* Maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene;
* Wash hands after sneezing, coughing and toileting and before eating.
Ends/Saturday, April 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:04
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