Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January to March 2009)

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: A case of EV71 confirmed (3/20/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a confirmed case of Enterovirus-71 (EV71) infection involving a three-year-old girl, the fifth case this year, and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.

A CHP spokesman said today (March 20) that the girl had presented with fever, cough, runny nose, oral ulcers and rash over hands and feet since March 13. She was admitted to a private hospital in Kowloon on March 16 and discharged on March 19. Her stool specimen tested positive for EV71.

''Family and school contacts of the girl had no symptoms of the disease. The spokesman said the CHP had advised the school to do a thorough disinfection to prevent the spread of the disease.

"CHP will closely monitor the situation. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene," he said.

There were 16, 12 and 98 cases of EV71 in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

For more information, people may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: A case of human myiasis confirmed (3/24/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health confirmed today (March 24) a human case of myiasis involving a 83-year-old man and urged members of the public to take measures to guard against the disease caused by maggots of flies.


The patient, living in an elderly home in Yuen Long, had multiple medical problems. He had fever and gum bleeding, and was found to have maggots in his oral cavity on March 21. He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on the same day and was diagnosed to have pneumonia. He was put on intravenous antibiotics on admission and finally passed away the next day.

CHP's investigations revealed that he had no recent travel history.

This is the second case of human myiasis in 2009. Nine cases were reported in 2008, 14 cases in 2007 and 15 cases in 2006.

Human myiasis cases are caused by parasitic maggots of flies which infest with larvae the superficial wounds and body orifices, such as mouth, ear and nose, of debilitated persons. The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue, and may cause serious tissue damage, resulting in loss of function, injury to the skin, secondary invasion and death.

People, especially staff of elderly homes, are advised to take note of the following measures:
* All wounds should be treated immediately. Wound fluids and blood are known to be attractive to some species of flies. To avoid myiasis infestation, wounds should be cleaned and dressed properly;
* Fly infestation can be avoided by proofing measures, including installation of fly screening materials to human dwelling places, dressing of wounds and maintaining good ventilation;
* Observe good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Staff of elderly homes should ensure good environmental hygiene, be alert to inmates developing symptoms of the disease and arrange for inmates feeling unwell to seek medical consultation promptly.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: A case of human myiasis confirmed (3/25/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health confirmed today (March 25) a human case of myiasis involving a 75-year-old woman and urged people to take measures to guard against the disease caused by fly maggots.


The patient, living in Sheung Shui, has had a scalp wound for one year. She noticed an increase in bloody discharge from the wound on March 21, was admitted to North District Hospital yesterday and was found to have maggots in the wound. She is now in stable condition.

CHP's investigations revealed that she had no recent travel history.

This is the third case of human myiasis in 2009. Nine cases were reported in 2008, 14 cases in 2007 and 15 in 2006.

Human myiasis cases are caused by parasitic maggots of flies which infest with larvae the superficial wounds and body orifices, such as mouth, ear and nose, of debilitated persons.

The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue, and may cause serious tissue damage, resulting in loss of function, injury to the skin, secondary invasion and death.

People, especially staff of elderly homes, are advised to take note of the following measures:
* All wounds should be treated immediately. Wound fluids and blood are known to be attractive to some species of flies.

To avoid myiasis infestation, wounds should be cleaned and dressed properly;
* Fly infestation can be avoided by proofing measures, including installation of fly screening materials to human dwelling places, dressing of wounds and maintaining good ventilation;
* Observe good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Staff of elderly homes should ensure good environmental hygiene, be alert to inmates developing symptoms of the disease and arrange for inmates feeling unwell to seek medical consultation promptly.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: SFH to visit Beijing (3/25/2009) [SFH]

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (March 25) left for Beijing to meet senior officials of the Ministry of Health, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Ministry of Agriculture and to discuss with them issues of common interest.


Accompanying Dr Chow on the visit will be the Director of Health, Dr Lam Ping-yan; and Controller of Centre for Food Safety, Dr Constance Chan. Dr Chow will return to Hong Kong on Friday afternoon (March 27).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: EV71 case confirmed (3/26/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 26) investigating a confirmed case of Enterovirus-71 (EV71) infection involving a 5-year-old boy and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.


A CHP spokesman said that the boy had presented with fever, oral ulcers and rash over hands and feet on March 22. He sought medical treatment from a private doctor and did not require hospitalisation. He is in stable condition. His stool specimen tested positive for EV71.

The boy's family contacts had no symptoms of Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD).

Five other children of the kindergarten the boy attended also developed HFMD symptoms.

CHP had advised the school to conduct thorough disinfection to prevent the spread of the disease.

This is the sixth case reported to the CHP this year. There were 16 cases of EV71 in 2006, 12 in 2007 and 98 in 2008.

For more information, people may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: Case of EV71 confirmed (3/27/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 27) investigating a confirmed case of Enterovirus-71 (EV71) infection involving a 2-year-old boy and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.


A CHP spokesman said the boy had presented on March 25 with oral ulcers, rash over hands and feet, fever, cough and also a runny nose. He sought medical treatment from a private doctor and did not require hospitalisation. He is in stable condition. His stool specimen tested positive for EV71.

The boy's family contacts had no symptoms of Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD).

Nine other children of the nursery the boy attended also developed HFMD symptoms.

CHP had advised the institution to conduct thorough disinfection to prevent the spread of the disease.

This is the seventh case reported to the CHP this year. There were 16 cases of EV71 in 2006, 12 in 2007 and 98 in 2008.

For more information, people may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January 2009+)

Hong Kong: A case of EV71 confirmed (3/28/2009) [CHP]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a confirmed case of Enterovirus-71 (EV71) infection involving a five-year-old boy, the eighth case this year, and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.


A CHP spokesman said today (March 28) that the boy had presented with oral ulcers and rash over hands and feet since March 12. He sought medical treatment from private doctor and did not require hospitalisation. His condition is stable. The boy's stool specimen tested positive for EV71.

Family contacts of the boy had no symptoms of Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD).

Earlier on, another five-year-old boy in the kindergarten the boy attended was also confirmed to have EV71 infection. Four other children of the same school had also developed HFMD symptoms. All of them sought medical treatment and are in stable condition.

The spokesman said the CHP had advised the school to do a thorough disinfection to prevent the spread of the disease.

"CHP will closely monitor the situation. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene," he said.

There were 16, 12 and 98 cases of EV71 in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

For more information, people may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
-

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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong (PRC SAR): Epidemiological Surveillance Updates from Centre of Heath Protection and other govt agencies (January to March 2009)

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