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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 2) reported four suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.
The first patient is a 32-year-old man who travelled to Seoul, Korea from May 3 to 28 for medical exchange activities at a local healthcare facility. The patient, with good past health, has presented with malaise and sore throat since May 31 and was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital today for isolation and management. He is in a stable condition.
The second patient is a 26-year-old woman who travelled to Seoul, Korea from May 21 to 25 and visited a local healthcare facility during her trip. The patient, with good past health, has presented with runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath and palpitation since May 28. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a private hospital today and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and management. She is in a stable condition. Her travel collateral remains asymptomatic.
The third patient is a 40-year-old woman who travelled to Dubai and Bahrain from May 22 to 26. The patient, with good past health, has presented with fever, sore throat and myalgia since May 28. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a private hospital today and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and management. She is in a stable condition. The patient did not visit healthcare facilities or have contact with camels or consume camel products during her trip. Her travel collaterals remain asymptomatic.
Nasopharyngeal aspirates of the three patients tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB).
Regarding the case reported yesterday (June 1) affecting a man aged 68, his nasopharyngeal aspirate also tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary testing by the PHLSB.
The patient, with good past health, arrived in Hong Kong from Sweden via transit in Dubai on May 29. He did not visit healthcare facilities or have contact with camels or consume camel products in Dubai. He developed cough and runny nose since May 31 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and management yesterday. He is now in a stable condition.
"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 a known risk factor for acquiring MERS. Travellers should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, and avoid contact with animals, especially camels, birds, poultry or sick people during travel," the spokesman for the DH said.
"According to the World Health Organization (WHO), among the recently exported cases in which the patients reported performing Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), investigation revealed that they had either visited a healthcare facility or had come into contact with camels or raw camel products while in the KSA. As Ramadan will begin in mid-June, pilgrims preparing to go to the KSA for Umrah should be vigilant against MERS," a spokesman said.
Travellers returning from the Middle East who develop respiratory symptoms should wear face masks, seek medical attention and report their travel history to the doctor. Health-care workers (HCWs) should arrange MERS-CoV testing for them. Patients' lower respiratory tract specimens should be tested when possible and repeat testing should be undertaken when clinical and epidemiological clues strongly suggest MERS.
Early identification of MERS-CoV is important, but not all cases can be detected in a timely manner, especially mild or atypical cases. HCWs should maintain vigilance and adhere to strict infection control measures while handling suspected or confirmed cases to reduce the risk of transmission to other patients, HCWs or visitors. Regular training and education should be provided.
"Scientific evidence supports the premise that camels are the primary source of MERS-CoV resulting in human infection. A study further suggested that human MERS-CoV infections could occur through close contact with infected camels," the spokesman added.
Locally, the DH's surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Suspected cases identified will be sent to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV. The DH has also kept ethnic minority and religious groups updated of the disease status and necessary preventive measures.
"MERS is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and the PHLSB is capable of detecting the virus. No human cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far," the spokesman said.
"The Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information. Whenever there is a suspected case, particularly involving patients with travel history to the Middle East, the CHP will release information to the public as soon as possible," the spokesman added.
Travellers are reminded to take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene:
* Avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels;
* Avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel;
* Wash hands regularly before and after touching animals in case of visits to farms or barns;
* Do not consume raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
* Seek medical consultation immediately if feeling unwell;
* Avoid visits to health-care settings with MERS patients;
* Wash hands before touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose; and
* Wash hands before eating or handling food, and after using the toilet.
The public may visit the pages below for more information and health advice:
* The CHP's MERS page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html);
* Geographical distribution of MERS cases in the Middle East (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/distribution_of_mers_cases_en.pdf);
* The MERS page of the DH's Travel Health Service (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html);
* The CHP Facebook Page (www.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
* The CHP YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
* The WHO's latest news (www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en).
Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).
Ends/Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:26
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