Commonground
Senior Moderator
June 1, 2015 The Department of Health (DH) is today (June 1) closely monitoring three additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (two cases) and Qatar (one case), and hence called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.
According to the WHO, the two patients in the KSA are a 71-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman. The male patient is currently hospitalised in stable condition while the female patient passed away on May 25. Regarding the case in Qatar, the patient is a 73-year-old man who is currently hospitalised in critical condition.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH is seeking more information on the cases from the WHO and the relevant health authorities, and will remain vigilant and work closely with the WHO as well as overseas and neighbouring health authorities to monitor the latest developments.
"The cluster in Korea signifies that human-to-human transmission of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in health-care settings and among close contacts can occur. The WHO has warned that failure in infection control and prevention measures in health-care settings could result in a large number of secondary cases. Nosocomial transmission can be stopped by strict adherence to basic infection control and prevention measures. The public and the health-care sector should pay special attention," a spokesman for the DH said.
"According to the WHO, among the recently exported cases who reported performing Umrah in the KSA, investigation revealed that they had either visited a health-care 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," the 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.
"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 said.
"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 CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch 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:
continued: http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/39798.html
According to the WHO, the two patients in the KSA are a 71-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman. The male patient is currently hospitalised in stable condition while the female patient passed away on May 25. Regarding the case in Qatar, the patient is a 73-year-old man who is currently hospitalised in critical condition.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH is seeking more information on the cases from the WHO and the relevant health authorities, and will remain vigilant and work closely with the WHO as well as overseas and neighbouring health authorities to monitor the latest developments.
"The cluster in Korea signifies that human-to-human transmission of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in health-care settings and among close contacts can occur. The WHO has warned that failure in infection control and prevention measures in health-care settings could result in a large number of secondary cases. Nosocomial transmission can be stopped by strict adherence to basic infection control and prevention measures. The public and the health-care sector should pay special attention," a spokesman for the DH said.
"According to the WHO, among the recently exported cases who reported performing Umrah in the KSA, investigation revealed that they had either visited a health-care 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," the 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.
"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 said.
"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 CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch 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:
continued: http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/39798.html