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After an earlier announcement by Kowloon Hospital about six female patients and four staff members of a rehabilitation ward in the Rehabilitation Building who had presented with gastroenteritis and fever symptoms, a spokesperson for the hospital today (March 23) said there were five new cases (all female patients aged 70 to 90) presented with the same symptoms. One of the cases is positive to Norovirus. Appropriate tests are being carried out and all patients are being treated under isolation and in stable condition. The staff members have recovered and returned to work.
There is no admission to and discharge from the rehabilitation ward for the time being. Visits to the isolated cubicle are suspended temporarily. All other patients in the wards concerned are under close surveillance. Infection control measures have been enhanced.
The hospital had earlier also announced that 11 patients and two staff members of a female medical ward in the Rehabilitation Building had presented with gastroenteritis and fever symptoms, and nine of them were positive to Norovirus. As there is no new case reported at the ward in the last four days, admission to and discharge from the ward as well as visiting arrangements were now back to normal.
The new rehabilitation ward cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
Ends/Thursday, March 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:01
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