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The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement update today (July 5):
As at 5pm today (July 5), there is only one new case in a surgical ward of Prince of Wales Hospital which is a staff member suffering from diarrhoea symptom. The staff, now on sick leave, is in stable condition. Laboratory tests are being carried out and the results are pending.
The case has already been reported to HA Head Office and Centre for Health Protection for the necessary follow up actions.
Since May 2006, there have been 136 in-patients and 41 staff members reported by various public hospitals who have presented with diarrhoea or vomiting symptoms due to Noroviral infection.
Various infection control measures have already been stepped up in the concerned hospitals. These include the followings:
* Maintain high clinical alertness to identify symptomatic cases
* Early isolation of symptomatic patients for treatment, while symptomatic staff members should refrain from duties for at least 48 hours
* Prompt and wide area cleansing of vomitters and excreters
* Stop new admission to and discharge from the concerned wards, while visiting to patients under isolation and those under surveillance is also suspended
* Provide hand washing/hand rub facilities for the general public coming in and leaving public hospitals
* HA Head Office will pass updated information on infection situation to all hospital clusters management and infection control teams, which would be accessed by frontline hospital staff
Ends/Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:35
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