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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) advised a special child care centre to suspend classes for one week starting tomorrow (April 15) upon receiving report of a suspected respiratory infection outbreak involving 11 students today (April 14).
The centre, named ¡°Caritas Lok Hing Child Care Centre¡± in Tuen Mun, with a total of 61 students requiring special care reported to the CHP that 12 students reported sick today. Investigation by CHP revealed that 11 students developed fever since April 8 and that most of them also developed respiratory symptoms including cough or sore throat.
Of them, two four-year-old girls were admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital. One of them whose case was reported to the CHP under the influenza surveillance arrangement yesterday is now in serious condition while the other one is in stable condition. Preliminary influenza tests of them were negative. Further tests are in progress.
The spokesman said that CHP advised the centre to suspend classes for a week from tomorrow to April 21 for thorough cleansing and disinfection.
He said, ¡°This is a precautionary measure to prevent further spreading of disease in the centre. CHP had conducted field visit to the institution and provided health instructions to the staff.¡±
"CHP will keep a close watch on the situation."
"The centre will notify the parents of the class suspension arrangement. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene."
Last Friday (April 18), HKFYG Ching Lok Kindergarten (Yau Ma Tei) was advised to suspend classes for preliminarily one week upon receiving reports of 33 students having fever with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. As the nasopharyngeal aspirates of four affected students yielded positive result to adenovirus which has a rather long incubation period, CHP advised to extend the class suspension for one more week. The kindergarten is scheduled to resume classes on April 28.
The CHP spokesman reminded members of the public to take precautionary measures to prevent common infectious diseases. They should: -
* 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;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
* Wash hands after sneezing, coughing and toileting and before eating;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation and avoid crowded public places where the ventilation is not good.
Ends/Monday, April 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:04
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