Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

[Barry Bull]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1241...googlenews_wsj
From The Wall Street Journal
By PETER STEIN and JONATHAN CHENG

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's government said that approximately 300 guests and staff of a hotel in the territory would be quarantined for seven days after a guest was found to have the A/H1N1 flu virus.

The extreme move comes after Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Friday that lab tests confirmed a visitor from Mexico who arrived on a China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai had the disease.
[Policemen wearing protective masks restrict access to a hotel in Hong Kong on Friday.] Reuters

Policemen wearing protective masks restrict access to a hotel in Hong Kong on Friday.
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Hong Kong's case marks the first official appearance of A/H1N1 in East Asia.

The patient was staying at the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai, which is owned by a local subsidiary of China Travel Service. Friday evening, police were outside the hotel preventing people from entering or leaving.

Guests at the hotel are free to move within the hotel, but can't leave and are being encouraged to stay in their rooms and minimize contact with others, the government spokesman said. They will be given preventative doses of Tamiflu.

The patient himself is being kept in isolation at a hospital. Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health, York Chow, said that three people who have been in close contact with the patient are also being separately quarantined.

Tsang said Friday that he would rather err on the side of overcaution than let the disease spread.

The move to impose a quarantine reflects Hong Kong's experience coping with an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, in 2003, which made 1,755 people fall ill and killed 299 in the territory. The disease's spread was in part traced back to a single infected guest at the Metropole Hotel in Kowloon.

"This transmission would have happened sooner or later, because the pandemic has already started," said Yi Guan, a microbiologist at Hong Kong University. ""There's nothing surprising, the only thing we can do at this moment is to minimize the impact."

Guan said Hong Kong's system was "much improved from six years ago" during the SARS outbreak. He noted that there are isolation wards in place in Hong Kong hospitals, and the government is doing a good job of communication and coordination.

A large number of people are expected to be traveling this May 1 Labor Day weekend in both Hong Kong and China.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

Welcome Barry!

[pablomorgan]

Hong Kong 'flu' hotel sealed off

More than 300 people at a Hong Kong hotel have been placed under quarantine after a guest there became China's first confirmed swine flu case.

The 25-year-old man, who is now in hospital after testing positive for the virus, had travelled from Mexico via Shanghai, Hong Kong's leader said.

Local TV footage showed police wearing masks guarding the hotel exits.

Meanwhile, the UK joined Canada, Spain, Germany and the US in reporting person-to-person transmission of the virus.

Mexico, where the outbreak began, has started a five-day shutdown of parts of its economy in a bid to curb the virus's progress.

Mexican officials say the spread of swine flu - suspected in more than 160 deaths - is slowing, but international experts are more cautious.

On Friday, French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said two people were infected with swine flu, France's first confirmed cases.

The minister said a third person "very probably" had the virus. She said all three had recently been to Mexico.

The announcement takes to 15 the number of countries where swine flu has been confirmed.

'No panic'

In cases outside Mexico the effects of the virus do not appear to be severe, although one death of a Mexican child has been confirmed in the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8029871.stm

[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...rnational/home


Quarantined travellers lament life in four-star isolation
MARK MACKINNON

From Monday's Globe and Mail
May 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM EDT

BEIJING ? There are 12 metres that Kevin Ireland knows all too well. It's the length of his hallway on the 11th floor in the Metropark hotel in downtown Hong Kong, the building where he and some 305 others have been quarantined since another guest there was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on Friday.

?It's boring, it's dull. The windows on the non-smoking floors don't open, so there's no fresh air. That's getting to us,? the 45-year-old Indian national said of life in four-star quarantine. Mr. Ireland, a clothing merchant, was supposed to be on a flight back to his native New Delhi today, but he and the other guests have been told that they won't be allowed to leave the hotel until at least Friday for fear they came into contact with a Mexican man who briefly checked into the Metropark last week before being diagnosed with the virus formerly known as swine flu.

It's big excitement at the Metropark when someone gets a phone call from the outside world. Or when guests are allowed to get pizza delivered ? carefully handed across the quarantine line to police officers in protective suits ? like they did yesterday.

At least the guests at the Metropark know why they have been quarantined. Though the Hong Kong case remains the only confirmed instance of H1N1 in China, hundreds of people around the country were kept in quarantine over the weekend due to H1N1-flu fears, including dozens of Mexican citizens who were apparently deemed suspicious solely because of their passports.

Most of those under quarantine were either guests at the Metropark, or airline passengers who had shared one of two flights the 25-year-old flu victim took before he was diagnosed. Despite the dragnet, a China-wide hunt was under way yesterday for dozens of people who were suspected of having come into contact with the flu patient.

More controversially, the Mexican embassy in Beijing said more than 50 Mexican business people and tourists had been involuntarily quarantined despite showing no flu symptoms at all. According to media reports, some were removed from their hotel rooms and escorted to hospitals in the middle of the night.

Among those detained was Mexico's consul-general in Guangzhou, who was briefly held for medical checks upon returning to the country from a vacation in Cambodia.

Flights between Mexico City and Shanghai ? the route the 25-year-old flu victim flew before transferring onwards to Hong Kong ? were suspended indefinitely. The measures set off a diplomatic row between Beijing and Mexico, which warned its citizens to avoid travel to China for the near future.

?Mexican citizens showing no signs at all of being ill have been isolated under unacceptable conditions,? Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said yesterday. ?These are discriminatory measures, without foundation.?

According to media reports, at least one Canadian ? a 38-year-old Quebec City native ? was among those quarantined in Hong Kong. Foreigners from Canada and the United States landing yesterday at Chinese airports were also taken aside for on-the-spot temperature tests, though they appear to have been treated less harshly than Mexican passport holders.

Chinese officials yesterday defended the somewhat draconian measures as both necessary and legal. ?All the measures are taken in accordance with laws and regulations,? said Chen Qiwei, a spokesman for the Shanghai city government. Scarred by accusations it was too slow to react during the 2003 SARS epidemic, Beijing has made a point of being seen as responding swiftly to any potential H1N1 cases.

Inside the Metropark hotel, many feel badly treated, and those inside say tempers have boiled over on more than one occasion since the lockdown began. But Mr. Ireland, for one, says he sympathizes with the steps the government has taken, even if he's among those caught on the wrong side of the line.

?The government would prefer to inconvenience 200 or 300 people than risk infecting the whole population. It is highly inconvenient for us, but I think if I was on the other side of the fence, I'd do the same.?

[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

Source: http://www.bnd.com/279/story/754644.html

Sunday, May. 03, 2009

Official: Plane to pick up Mexicans in China
BY E. EDUARDO CASTILLO - Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY -- A Foreign Relations Department official says Mexico will send a plane to China to bring back citizens after the Asian country quarantined more than 70 Mexican travelers in its fight against swine flu.

The official says the government will charter an Aeromexico airliner in the coming hours to take home any Mexicans who want to leave China. The official spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because of department policy barring her from being named.

The official could not say if priority would be given to Mexicans who have been quarantined.

Earlier Sunday, Mexican President Felipe Calderon expressed dismay that "some countries or places are taking discriminatory measures because of ignorance and misinformation."

[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

Source: http://www.wradio.com.mx/nota.aspx?id=805593

Will shortly a special flight to China to repatriate mexicanosW Radio | May 4, 2009

Mexico .- In the next few hours due to start a special flight to China to repatriate Mexicans who are in that country, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a communique, the agency said that the flight, may return to Mexico compatriots who so wish, whether residents or tourists.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that the plane will be sent as part of actions taken to "protect our fellow citizens are exposed to isolation measures during the influenza epidemic has imposed China.

The plane will depart in the next few hours, it will call in several cities in the PRC, where are the Mexicans who have expressed their intention to return to Mexico.

Especially, it will seek to repatriate Mexicans who arrived recently to the Eastern country on a flight from Mexico and were confined by the Chinese authorities "for health reasons."

Mexican residents or visitors in China have been informed of the plane so that, if so decided, can return to our country.

However, the unit said that the Mexicans do, they may stay in China, but said he will follow-up time on their situation and their treatment during the contingency health.

"The Mexican Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou will continue to provide any assistance required, and ensure that they are constantly full respect their rights."

As reported last Saturday at noon, the foreign minister Patricia Espinosa, Mexican authorities have registered 71 people currently in that country.

This Sunday, the agency also issued a travel warning which strongly recommends not to travel to China, the unacceptable to this government has imposed in the context of the fight against influenza.

With information from Notimex

[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong to Quarantine 300 at Hotel for Week After Flu Confirmed

Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/595586.html

Google translation:
Influenza 45 Mexicans are in quarantine in Shanghai moved to the suburbs
45 nationals to move with great discretion, in small groups of ambulances, a hotel on the outskirts of the city
EFE
El Universal
Shanghai, China Monday May 04, 2009

06:36 The 45 Mexicans who are in quarantine in Shanghai (eastern China) as a measure to prevent the possibility of having contracted influenza A were transferred with great discretion, in small groups of ambulances, a hotel on the outskirts of the city.

According to Efe confirmed the consul general of Mexico in Shanghai, Miguel District, the 45 Mexicans are now "comfortably installed in the hotel Howard Johnson Plaza Lingang, a coastal town in the newly created section of Nanhui district, 75 kilometers the center of Shanghai.

At the moment none of the Mexican isolates show flu symptoms, but remain in quarantine, probably until you reach the city announced the plane by the Mexican Government to repatriate those affected by his country in China, whose departure to the Asian giant is waiting for the next few hours.

The "vast majority" plan to use it to return to Mexico, said the consul, except a few very specific cases, students who want to continue their classes in Shanghai and China could decide to move in any quarantine.

At the Courtyard Marriott hotel, located in the financial area of Shanghai, where he is focused so far the largest group of Mexican isolates, a total of 27, including the crew of the second Aeromexico plane that arrived in the country, last Thursday 30.

According to Efe found for just over half an hour and up to 14 ambulances came and went spacing, alone or in groups of two or three vehicles and in different directions, to be as unobtrusive as possible.

It is hoped that these 45 people were soon join four other Mexicans, two who are in a hospital in the city of Yiwu, and two are in Hangzhou, 170 kilometers, both in neighboring eastern province of Zhejiang.

They said District, are "comfortable" and "they are responding well," and transfer of today sought by health authorities in Shanghai, was in agreement with those concerned with the diplomatic representatives of Mexico.

"The Mexican community has been very mature, has always cooperated with the authorities," said District, and the authorities in case of Shanghai, we have been informed at all times where they were (isolated individuals) and we have allowed access to them. "

"In Shanghai the deal has been good," the Mexican consul in contrast to the difficulties experienced by the Latin American diplomats in Beijing to obtain information and support.

The 49 Mexican isolates in eastern China are people who have been in Mexico in the last 14 days or in contact with others that they have been.
mvc