Suspected MERS cases reported

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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 14) reported three suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places of visit. The cases are detailed below:

Sex	Male	Female	Female
Age	44	66	7
Affected areas involved	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Kingdom of Saudi Arabia	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
High-risk exposure	Camel ride	Visit to a local healthcare facility	Camel ride
Hospital	Ruttonjee Hospital	Queen Elizabeth Hospital	Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Condition	Stable	Stable	Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result	Negative	Negative	Negative

     Separately, the CHP today reported that the suspected MERS case pending results yesterday (September 13), upon preliminary testing, tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS-CoV," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

Ends/Friday, September 14, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:00

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