*****************************************************
In view of the prolonged Norovirus season this year and the continual occurrence of Noroviral infection in some public hospitals, the Hospital Authority (HA), in collaboration with the Center for Health Protection (CHP), reviewed the current situation and measures to manage the unusual surge in Norovirus cases.
Dr Liu Shao-haei, Chairman of the HA Central Committee on Infectious Disease, said today (July 3) that a number of enhanced measures have already been and will continue to be taken to address the outbreak situation. These include the followings:
* Hospitals where there are cluster of gastroenteritis cases need to report to and update HA and CHP the situation on a daily basis. HA will accordingly inform the public the situation in public hospitals regarding enhanced infectious control measures, visiting arrangement and other service arrangement, if any.
* Infected patients will be cohorted and isolated for treatment. Infected staff will take sick leave until 48 hours after the symptoms subside.
* All public hospitals are again reminded on the importance of prompt and extensive environment disinfection, proper personal protective equipment and hand hygiene.
* CHP will visit affected wards and assist hospitals in reviewing the infection control measures, if needed. CHP will also provide laboratory support to public hospitals for early diagnosis of cases.
* Daily summary of public hospital outbreaks will continue to be sent to all public hospital Infection Control Teams to alert them of the overall situation.
* Awareness of staff will be enhanced via internal newsletters and other means of communication to keep them updated with the latest situation when appropriate.
* The working group with representatives from Elderly Health Service of DH, Social Welfare Department and Community Geriatric Assessment Teams of HA will continuously monitor the situation and coordinate case management and control measures among different parties.
* Daily alert on new institutional outbreaks will continue to be sent to all public hospital to facilitate proactive action at hospital level.
* HA will also conduct health talks to the private doctors/hospitals, who will be handling majority of the cases occurred in the community.
While understanding the public's concern on the recent outbreaks in public hospitals, HA Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu and Chief Executive, Mr Shane Solomon have visited a number of hospitals with outbreaks and felt confident that the situation in public hospitals are being well managed with heightened staff awareness and vigilance towards the disease and also proper infection control measures in place.
Ends/Monday, July 3, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:53
NNNN
