Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

The boy died the same day primary schools will be closed to fight the epidemic fresh escalation of the command - Ming Pao - Hong Kong influenza epidemic further escalation, the Department of Health yesterday announced that 25 more schools or homes collective outbreak of influenza, the number of people affected nearly 200, and the Tuen Mun Ho Shun Tak Fraternal Association East schools also 7-year-old boy has died, a third within three weeks of influenza symptoms appear quickly after the death of children, the school another five students admitted.

食物及衛生局眼見流感恐慌愈演愈烈，立即全權統領防疫事宜，宣布何日東小學即日起停課，並成立專家小組徹查3宗兒童死亡個案。​

Food and Health Bureau flu panic seeing more and more immediately credentials to guide epidemic prevention, He announced that East schools will be closed with immediate effect, and the establishment of the Panel of Experts investigating the death of three children.

醫管局轄下所有急症室醫院的兒科、內科和老人科，更會在即日起調派人手到急症室會診。​

All HA & E Hospital's paediatrics, internal medicine and geriatrics, will be deployed in the immediate effect to the emergency room staff consultation.

何日東35人請病假5留院​

Mr Tung, 35 people admitted to hospital on sick leave 5

踏入3月至今只有11日，衛生署至昨日已接獲57間學校、院舍或醫院病房爆發流感呈報，累積受影響人數近500，當中涉及幼童死亡的屯門和沙田區更屬重災區。​

March has only entered on the 11th, the Department of Health yesterday to have received 57 schools, homes or hospitals reported outbreak of influenza, and the cumulative number of people affected nearly 500, involving the death of young children and Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and it is Heavily District.

至於昨午12時宣布死亡的7歲男童羅浩明，其就讀的順德聯誼總會何日東小學，受流感影響學生更由28人增至35人，其中4女1男(6至11歲)更病重入院。​

As for the 12 o'clock yesterday afternoon announced the death of 7-year-old boy Luogaomeng, attending Ho Shun Tak Fraternal Association East primary schools, more students affected by the flu by 28 to 35 people, including four women and a man (6-11 years old) more seriously ill hospitalized.

食物及衛生局長周一嶽昨日特別與衛生署、醫管局及教育局代表召開會議，商討抗疫對策及停課安排。​

Food and Health Secretary York Chow yesterday particularly with the Department of Health, Hospital Authority and Department of Education representatives held a meeting to discuss the measures and arrangements for school closure to fight the epidemic.

據悉，雖然衛生署連日來均強調目前流感疫情未見異常高峰，但短期內有3名幼童呈流感徵狀後即死亡，惹起社會極大恐慌，因此周一嶽決定在衛生防護中心科學委員會轄下成立專家小組，由港大微生物學系教授袁國勇擔任主席，深入徹查3童死因，包括是否有特別病毒、個案是否有關連等(詳見另稿)。​

While we understand that the Department of Health over the past few days have stressed that the current flu epidemic no abnormal heights, but in the short term there are three children were killed after the flu symptoms, which brought great social panic, Dr Chow decided to CHP set up under the Scientific Committee Panel of Experts from the Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, chair, in-depth investigating death of three children, including whether there is a particular virus, such as whether the cases related (see another draft).

衛生防護中心總監曾浩輝昨午亦宣布，考慮到何日東小學有病童死亡、校內仍有流感傳播象，其中5人更病重入院，故要求該校今日起提早放復活節假，直至本月25日為止，衛生署會再評估該校疫情才決定能否復課。​

Director of the Centre for Health Protection Thomas Tsang also announced yesterday afternoon, taking into account the date East primary school children have died, schools have influenza spread  elephant, five of them more seriously ill hospital, and called for the early release from the school today Easter holiday until the 25th of this month, the Department of Health will assess the school before deciding whether to resume the epidemic.

據目前資料顯示，該校相信是受甲型流感影響，全校停課有利校方全面消毒。​

According to current information, the school believed to be affected by the influenza A school will be closed all schools benefit disinfection.

但不少家長都埋怨停課決定來得太遲。​

But many parents complain that the suspension decision came too late.

曾浩輝承認，全港停課是防控流感擴散方案之一，但現階段未需要全港停課，而停課準則不會劃一，要看個別學校疫情傳播速度，如是否在一兩日內有多人中招；學童病情的嚴重程度、有否併發症或死亡；以及學校防疫措施執行是否理想、衛生環境因素等。​

Thomas Tsang admitted that Hong Kong will be closed spread of influenza prevention and control is one of the options, but at this stage did not need all closed, and the suspension will not be uniform guidelines, dissemination of the epidemic depends on the speed of individual schools, such as whether there are more than one or two days in strokes; the severity of the illness children, whether there are complications or death, and whether the school immunization measures for the implementation of an ideal, health and other environmental factors.

小學教師不滿停課指引不清​

Dissatisfied with the suspension of primary and secondary school teachers guidelines unclear

事實上，不少學校爆疫情已趨嚴重，前日公布爆疫的元朗公立中學校友會小學，報稱染疫人數已由11增至40，請假人數逾80。​

In fact, many schools  has become a serious epidemic explosion, yesterday announced the explosive epidemic Yuen Long Public Middle School Alumni Association primary schools, the number of reported Infected from 11 to 40, leave more than 80.

校長姜渭榮坦言，衛生署至今只「建議」他們可選擇提早放復活節假，未作指令，該校有老師更致電電台表示當局無清晰停課指引，令學校難下決定。​

President Jiang Wei-jung admitted that the Department of Health has only "proposal" They can either choose to take early Easter holiday, not for instruction, the school teachers have even called the radio station said that the suspension without clear guidelines to enable schools and difficult decision.

不少屯門區學校得知何日東小學停課，即時緊張非常。​

Many schools know what the Tuen Mun District in East primary schools closed immediately very tense.

屯門區小學校長會主席周錦祥說，昨日屯門區碰巧有17名中小學校長開會，均判斷該區學生患流感情並不嚴重。​

Tuen Mun District Primary School Heads Association President Zhoujinxiang that yesterday happened to the Tuen Mun District 17 primary and secondary school principals have met students from the area were judged  feelings flow is not serious.

但他支持政府給予「評量表」，以助校長按校內情，決定是否需要提早放復活節假。​

But he supported the government "rating scale," according to school principals to help  situation, decide whether to take early Easter holiday.

教育界立法會代表張文光認為，政府應有一套包括客觀數據的明確流感指引，如多少師生同時出現流感徵狀，校方便應考慮停課，免得學校不知所措，他希望立法會盡快開會商討此事。​

Kwong representatives of the education sector that the Legislative Council, the Government should have a clear objective data including influenza guidelines, the number of students at the same time as influenza symptoms, the school will be closed to facilitate consideration should be given to avoid a loss schools, he hoped that the Legislative Council meeting as soon as possible discuss the matter.

教育局與衛生署未來3日會舉辦4個大型防控流感講座，為全港過百名校長提供防疫指引。​

Education and the Department of Health will be held on the 3rd next four large-scale influenza prevention and control talks for all the 100 principals immunization guidelines.

珀麗灣游隼疑染禽流​

Park Island Hayabusa with suspected bird

社區爆流感之際，漁護署昨公布在馬灣珀麗灣檢獲的游隼懷疑帶有H5禽流感病毒。​

Explosion influenza of the community, AFCD announced yesterday in Ma Wan Park Island seized Hayabusa suspected of carrying the H5 avian influenza virus. :tiphat: http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?h...=http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080312/gaa1.htm

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

I clear remind the first human case of H5N1 in Hong Kong, ten years ago: a child with flu-like illness that died of Reye's Syndrome after treatment with aspirin.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

I assume, they tested already for seasonal flu, but the tests were negative.
Else they wouldn't call it mysterious.
Also, they called the expert from SARS

袁國勇
(you can search google-news-Hongkong for this name)

apparantly no diagnosis yet

 

[Malcolm]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/...sing-all-schools-as-flu-outbreak-worsens.html


Hong Kong considers closing all schools as flu outbreak worsens
Posted : Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:51:01 GMT

Author : DPA

Hong Kong - Hong Kong government officials were considering Wednesday whether to close all schools as a flu outbreak worsened, infecting hundreds of children and shutting down a second school. Ho Yat Tung Primary School on Tuesday was shut down early for Easter after a 7-year-old boy died of a respiratory illness and about 40 other pupils fell ill with the flu.

On Wednesday morning, about 100 pupils at another primary school in the city's Yuen Long district fell ill with the flu, and the school also decided to close early ahead of next week's scheduled holiday.

Health Secretary York Chow said Wednesday that the government would monitor the flu outbreak over the coming days before deciding whether all schools in the city of 6.9 million should be closed.

The school closures are the first in Hong Kong since the 2003 outbreak of the flu-like SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed 299 people, infected 1,755 and led to widespread panic across the former British colony.

Concerns over the current outbreak, which also led to the death of a girl, 3, on March 1, has seen the return in schools and hospitals of the face masks that were ubiquitous during the 2003 crisis.

Government officials have also appealed to people to stop stockpiling the drug Tamiflu, which is used to counter avian flu. There is no evidence yet of any infections involving bird flu.

Emergency units at hospitals, meanwhile, said they are struggling to cope with the volume of parents bringing in children with flu symptoms as fears about the flu outbreak mount.

Chow said Wednesday that the current outbreak appeared to be worse in primary schools and told reporters, "We will monitor the situation in the coming days to see if there is a real increase, a surge, in the influenza virus in our community."

Chow suggested the government might leave secondary schools open and order primary schools to close. "If we have to adopt a closure policy, it would affect mostly the primary schools," he said.

As well as SARS, Hong Kong saw the world's first modern-day outbreak of bird flu in 1997 when the virus infected 18 people, killing six of them.

Copyright, respective author or news agency

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Transcript of Secretary for Education after attending Legco meeting
March 12 2008, 10.22.04

Following is a transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, during a media session after attending the Legco meeting today (March 12):

Reporter:
...what criteria will you apply in making the decision?

Secretary for Education:
I'm afraid it's a quite complex problem because every school has a different situation.
So it would not be appropriate for us, to set a certain number as the criteria. Our regional education officers are constantly in touch with the schools on the ground.
They get the latest figures from the schools regarding the number of children falling sick and some may require hospitalisation.
So after we've got all the facts, regional education officers will get in touch with the health authorities.
Then, on the basis of the facts, they will have to decide whether there is a case for closing the school.

Reporter:
...how quick could you make a decision because it might require something very fast?

Secretary for Education:
It can be done very fast because, as I said, our regional education officers are in contact with schools on the ground.
They know what??s going on and so we can react very fast, like yesterday.

Reporter:
How would they know what the trigger is?

Secretary for Education:
The trigger - they will have to confirm with the health authorities, because it's very important for the actual situation on the ground to be carefully assessed by those who are professionally competent, both in terms of the health requirement and also in terms of educational requirement.
So between us and the health authorities together with the school, we are able to come to that sort of decision very quickly.

Reporter:
Some parents may be quite worried about the health of their children studying in the school. Is there anything you can say to reassure them?

Secretary for Education:
I think all parents should know that if their children have any symptoms at all, they should refrain from sending them to schools because the schoolchildren need rest.
And by not sending them to school, it will also reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu.
That's most important. I think insofar as other considerations, such as examinations or school works, are concerned, it is our standard practice that the schools will catch up on those falling behind in terms of assignments and examinations, and if necessary reschedule them.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Hospital Authority contingency measures to manage influenza surge
March 12 2008, 13.22.04

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) today (Wednesday, 12 March) announced that a special fund of $20 million has been set aside to implement a series of measures run up to end of April this year to cope with recent surge in demand for public hospital services due to seasonal influenza.

Speaking to the media at a visit to the North District Hospital this afternoon, Mr Shane Solomon, the Chief Executive of HA said that public hospitals were experiencing a prolonged increase in emergency demand lately, in particular the emergency medical admissions.

''Compared with February last year, the daily number of emergency medical admissions is 16 percent higher. At the same time, recent admission to paediatric wards in public hospitals has also surged.''

''This sudden and unprecedented surge in demand in medical and paediatric wards, as well as in the Accident & Emergency Departments, have created great pressure on our frontline staff, who have responded with great commitment and dedication. Our frontline staff have worked extra hours, with many of them cancelling leave, working longer hours and on their days off.''

''Over the last two weeks, an additional 15,000 hours of extra nursing and supporting staff have worked, adding the equivalent of 192 full-time staff to the wards.''

''We would also like to commend our frontline staff who have already worked many excess hours during this flu season. They will be offered the option of cashing out the compensation off hours they have accumulated since the beginning of February, which is estimated to be around 40,000 hours.''

''We will also offer a Special Honorarium Scheme to staff who are willing to work extra shifts or sessions to relieve the pressure in the busy areas.''

Mr Solomon said that in line with normal practice, as medical wards have become full, hospitals will arrange to overflow patient into other wards. To cope with the recent surge, various hospital clusters have opened extra beds and implement other initiatives to cope with patient needs.

Some key measures are as follows:
- A total of 547 beds were used to accommodate the extra demand by paediatric and medical patients in various hospitals
- Geriatricians and paediatricians are helping in the Accident and Emergency Department to assess whether patients need to be admitted
- Ward rounds by senior doctors have been increased to ensure timely discharge
- Pathology tests and x-rays have been fast-tracked for fever patients to allow early diagnosis and discharge Mr Solomon also reassured the public that HA will closely monitor the situation on a daily basis to plan for further measures.

''A new system of contingency plan will be implemented with a two-staged response. For stage one, where the occupancy of a ward is over 100 percent but less than 115 percent for at least three days, the hospital concerned is expected to implement early contingency response, such as overflow of patients to less busy wards, adding nursing and supporting staff to the affected ward.''

''For stage two, where occupancy of a ward is over 115 percent for at least three days, a higher level of response will be implemented, including reduction of non-urgent surgery so that available beds and nursing staff would be redeployed to assist the high pressure wards,'' said Mr Solomon.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

EDB urges schools to strengthen preventive measures against flu (with photos)
March 12 2008, 12.13.04

In the first of the four health talks organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) in collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), the EDB today (March 12) called on schools to be vigilant in strengthening its preventive measures against the spread of influenza in schools.

The health talk series are organised in each of the four regions in the coming three days starting today to enhance schools on knowledge of preventing and controlling spread of influenza in schools, and to provide a platform for exchanges of good practices among schools.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau said in this morning's health talk, many school principals, teachers and staff were briefed on how to collaborate with EDB and CHP in preventing the spread of influenza in schools.

They also shared their successful experience, including joining hands with committees for home school cooperation, maintaining good communication with parents to solicit their co-operation as well as keeping good air ventilation in school premises and preparing a stock on masks and related materials in minimizing the chance of teachers and students contracting the disease.

The spokesman reminds schools that schools should make use of the Operating Expenses Block Grant if there is a need to purchase masks or other equipment to prevent the spread of influenza.

The EDB issued a letter today to all kindergartens, kindergartens cum child care centres, and primary schools and secondary schools, reminding them to provide support for learning to those students who have fallen ill so as to ensure their learning would not be affected because of their absence from school.

The spokesman said, ''We remind schools that taking account of the situation of students'' absence from school due to illness, they may consider deferring examinations or tests in accordance with the actual circumstances in order to ease the concerns of students and parents. Schools are also urged to arrange supplementary examinations or tests for individual students who are unable to sit the examinations and tests because of illness and to handle the cases properly to ensure fairness''.

''In the letter, principals of primary schools are also urged to take note of the Internal Assessment for the purpose of Secondary School Places Allocation. If schools, for special reasons, are unable to arrange supplementary examinations for students absent from school due to illness, the Secondary School Place Allocation Section would allocate the school places for the students concerned in accordance with the established mechanism.''

The spokesman stressed that the EDB would continue to liaise with the DH and closely monitor the latest developments.

Schools should inform the Bureau and the DH as early as possible if they find students developing infectious disease symptoms or when the number of students absent from schools increases suddenly.

The EDB would, in collaboration with the DH, take follow-up action immediately to offer advice to schools about the suitable preventive measures to be taken and to make assessment, in accordance with the situation, on whether the school concerned would need to make holidays re-arrangement or to suspend classes.

The EDB had delivered a letter from the CHP in mid-February and early March to remind all schools to take appropriate precautionary measures. The Bureau also issued a circular on March 6 requesting schools to step up the precautionary measures.

To keep parents well informed of the above precautionary measures, schools were also asked to send a notice or letter to all parents requesting them to closely observe and follow the measures, including take the body temperature of their children before attending school.

The circular also reminded schools to keep the Crisis Management Team on the alert and activate it when situation warranted, such as briefing all staff members and students on knowledge about influenza, implementing contingency measures when staff members or students have contracted the disease.
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[Malcolm]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_he_me/hong_kong_flu


Hong Kong closes schools due to flu



HONG KONG - Hong Kong government orders all kindergartens and primary schools to be closed for two weeks amid flu outbreak.


Hong Kong health secretary York Chow says figures have shown a growing number of people suffering from flu and public are concerned about the influenza outbreak.

In a statement issued late Wednesday night, the Education Bureau announces all kindergartens, primary schools and special schools will begin the Easter holiday early to prevent the spread of influenza in school campus.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Director of the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection Thomas Tsang said, 12 received 23 reports of influenza, involving 184 children, the Centre for Health Protection will continue to track influenza, and the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and maintain close contact. He said that the earlier death of 3-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy were infected with H3 and H1 influenza has been ruled out of the "atypical pneumonia" and the possibility of the avian flu.

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Update on institutional outbreaks of influenza
March 12 2008, 16.54.54

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received reports of influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks affecting 23 schools involving a total of 184 people today (March 12).

A CHP spokesman said ILI may be caused by influenza or other respiratory viruses.

CHP's officials have visited all these institutions and provided health advice to the staff accordingly.

CHP will provide the public with information on seasonal influenza starting tomorrow.

The hotline (telephone no. 2125-1133) will operate between 9 am and 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

CHP received a report from Hospital Authority today concerning a three-year-old boy who was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday because of persistent fever, cough and shortness of breath. He was transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) today and is now in stable condition. Initial investigation showed his respiratory sample yielded positive results for influenza A (H1N1).

Further tests are under progress. CHP is keeping a close watch on the case and has contacted the kindergarten which the boy attended. Health advice was provided to the school accordingly.

So far no ILI outbreak has been reported in the school.

Regarding the death of a seven-year-old boy with respiratory and neurological symptoms in Tuen Mun Hospital, the spokesman said further laboratory tests showed that the boy's respiratory sample yielded positive results for influenza A (H1N1).

The case has been referred to the Coroner's Court for follow up investigation. On the other hand, CHP today received a report concerning a 21-month-old boy who developed fever and cough on February 22.

He attended the Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital the next day.

He developed generalized seizure at A&ED and was transferred to the ICU of Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment subsequently.

The boy passed away on February 24.

The spokesman said that examination of the boy's respiratory sample yielded negative results for Influenza A and B. There is no evidence at the present stage suggesting the boy has contracted influenza.

Further investigation is ongoing.

The case has been submitted to Coroner's Court for investigation.

To prevent influenza, members of the public are urged to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene.

They are urged to build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise, and adequate rests, reducing stress and avoiding smoking. More details of the institutional outbreaks, preventive tips and the daily update of influenza situation are now available in CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

SFH on class suspension in primary schools and kindergarten due to flu
March 12 2008, 18.08.04

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at Murray Building, Central last night (March 12):

Reporter:
Dr Chow, is there any real pressing medical reason to implement the closure of schools and is there any indication other than a normal influenza?

Secretary for Food and Health:
At present, there is no indication showing there is any significant change of the virus that makes it exceptionally more virulent than the usual flu virus. But of course we cannot rule out anything yet.
So, our scientists will continue to investigate, particularly the causes of death of the children concerned. We will also monitor the virus in the community. We will also do isolates from various reports, from both the sentinel surveillance as well as our clinics and hospitals.
We have asked all the schools to inform us if they have any significant increase in sick leave, particularly if any of their students needed to be hospitalised.
The hospitals will inform the Centre for Health Protection if there is any serious cases of influenza that were admitted with complications.
If this multiple monitoring were able to ensure that all the important information gathered, it would be able to allow us to assess the situation on a day-to-day basis.

Reporter:
Is public fear the primary reason?

Secretary for Food and Health:
This is one of the reasons, of course.
We feel that in the last few days there has been increasing concern of some parents and also some schools, particularly in some areas. We look at the reports from different schools, there is more reports of outbreak usually from primary schools rather than high schools.
So, in this case, we feel that high schools need not be suspended for the time being.

Reporter:
There would be coroner's cases...Would you make a decision to extend the school closure before...

Secretary for Food and Health:
We shall monitor the situation both from the public health angle regarding the number of virus isolates on a day-to-day basis to see what is the trend; secondly, I hope the special experts committee would be able to give us some indications particularly regarding the virus or some of the additional factors that caused the severity in the few cases that (the patients) unfortunately died. If that would actually help us make a better decision, of course we would announce as soon as possible.

(Please also refer to the Chinese session of the transcript)
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[Sally Furniss]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

The news in Spanish is confusing.

school closed in Hong Kong for the presence of avian influenza

Tsang indic? que 35 ni?os hab?an presentado los s?ntomas de la enfermedad en las ?ltimas semanas.


Tsang indicated that 35 children had presented the symptoms of the disease in recent weeks.

Beijing.- Las autoridades sanitarias de Hong Kong cerraron hoy una escuela primaria ante la presencia de casos con el virus H5N1 y luego de la muerte de un ni?o de siete a?os de edad por influenza aviar, inform? el diario de la isla The Stantard.​

Beijing .- Health authorities in Hong Kong closed today a primary school in the presence of cases with the H5N1 virus, and after the death of a child seven years of age by avian influenza, reported the newspaper The Stantard of the island.

La fuente precis? que una escuela del poblado de Tuen Mun cerr? sus puertas a pocos d?as de la celebraci?n de la Pascua para iniciar un proceso de investigaci?n por parte de un grupo de expertos en las pr?ximas dos semanas.​

The source pointed out that a school in the town of Tuen Mun closed its doors a few days before the celebration of Easter to initiate an investigation by a group of experts in the next two weeks.

La noticia del cierre de la escuela se dio como una medida para calmar el temor entre la poblaci?n de que se repita una epidemia con el virus H5N1 como la que se registr? en 2003.​

The news of the closure of the school was as a measure to calm fears among the population that are repeated with the H5N1 epidemic like the one that occurred in 2003.

El responsable del Centro para la Protecci?n de la Salud, Thomas Tsang Ho-fai dijo que la escuela primaria se cerrar?a para facilitar las investigaciones y realizar una tarea de esterilizaci?n en el inmueble, precis? The Standard.​

The manager of the Centre for Health Protection Thomas Tsang Ho-fai said that the elementary school would be closed to facilitate investigations and perform a task sterilization in the building, she said The Standard.

?No consideramos que se est? en una etapa de cerrar todas las escuelas de Hong Kong?, dijo Tsang.



​

"We do not believe that is in a stage of closing all schools in Hong Kong," said Tsang.

Seg?n The Standard, el funcionario de salud indic? que se est? supervisando de cerca la situaci?n, en especial el efecto que podr?a surgir por la influenza aviar en las escuelas ?para preparar, de ser necesaria, la siguiente etapa en esta acci?n?.​

According to The Standard, the health officer indicated that it is monitoring the situation closely, especially the effect that might arise from avian influenza in schools "to prepare, if necessary, the next step in this action."

Tsang indic? que 35 ni?os hab?an presentado los s?ntomas de la enfermedad en las ?ltimas semanas, cinco de los cuales ya se hab?an declarado el martes en condiciones estables, de acuerdo con los reportes hospitalarios.​

Tsang indicated that 35 children had presented the symptoms of the disease in recent weeks, five of whom had already been declared on Tuesday in stable condition, according to hospital reports.

Agreg? que el gobierno design? al profesor Yuen Kwok-yung, de la Universidad de Microbiolog?a de Hong Kong para presidir al grupo de expertos que revisar?n los casos de los tres ni?os que murieron un d?a despu?s de que ingresaran al hospital hace unas semanas.​

He added that the government appointed Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong to chair the expert group to review the cases of three children who died one day after he admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago.

El grupo de investigaci?n incluye a expertos en microbiolog?a, medicina cl?nica, medicina forense, patolog?a y toxicolog?a.​

The research team includes experts in microbiology, clinical medicine, forensic medicine, pathology and toxicology.

La decisi?n fue tomada luego de la reuni?n de emergencia convocada por el ministro de Salud, York Chow Yat-ngok, junto con funcionarios del mismo departamento, autoridades hospitalarias y del departamento de Educaci?n.​

The decision was made after the emergency meeting convened by the Minister of Health, York Chow Yat-ngok, along with officials from the same department, hospital authority and the Department of Education.

Tsang se?al? que los brotes se hab?an registrado de manera dispersa en el territorio, refutando las versiones de que el brote fue solo en Tuen Mun.


​

Tsang noted that the outbreak had been recorded so scattered in the territory, refuting versions that the outbreak was alone in Tuen Mun.

El Departamento de Salud inform? el martes que se registraron 27 brotes de influenza aviar que afectaban a 25 escuelas, a una residencia para minusv?lidos y un hospital, involucrando a un total de 197 personas, seg?n


The Standard.​

The Department of Health reported on Tuesday that there were 27 outbreaks of bird flu affecting 25 schools, a residence for the disabled and a hospital, involving a total of 197 people, according to The Standard.

http://www.milenio.com/index.php/2008/03/12/207557/
​

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[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Hong Kong shuts schools in flu outbreak


By MIN LEE

Published: March 12th, 2008 03:34 PM
Last Modified: March 12th, 2008 03:36 PM
Hong Kong ordered more than half a million primary and kindergarten students Wednesday to stay home for two weeks because of a flu outbreak in one of the world's most densely populated cities.
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The government also asked one of its top scientists to investigate the deaths of three children. But the World Health Organization said only two of the children tested positive for the flu, and both had other diseases as well.
The outbreak has not been linked to bird flu, which was detected in birds in Hong Kong. Bird flu remains difficult for humans to catch, but scientists fear the virus that causes it could eventually mutate into a form that spreads easily among humans.
The government has ordered all kindergartens, primary and special education schools closed for two weeks starting Thursday, Health Secretary York Chow said. School children - along with teachers and parents - wore masks Wednesday as they walked outside.
The schools had been expected to start their Easter Holiday in a little over a week, though the date varies with each school. Chow said bringing the holiday forward would help reduce cross infection among school children and calm public fears.
"When children are at school, it's very hard to keep them still and prevent them from contacting each other. They may not listen to orders and wear masks or wash their hands. This is an effective measure from an infectious disease standpoint," Chow said.
The closure will affect nearly 560,000 students at 1,745 schools, according to enrollment figures from the 2006-2007 academic year.
Since March 6, health officials have recorded nine flu outbreaks, mostly at schools, affecting 532 people in the territory of nearly 7 million.
Chow emphasized that there was no sign of "any significant change of the virus that makes it exceptionally more virulent than the usual flu virus."
The flu cases so far are scattered across the territory, which does not suggest the spread of an exceptionally virulent virus, P.L. Ho, a scientist at the University of Hong Kong's microbiology department, said in an interview with Cable TV.
He also said the illness might have been unusually severe in younger children because it was their first infection with certain flu viruses.
"We need to be careful but we don't need to panic," said Yuen Kwok-yung, who is heading a panel of scientists to study the recent child deaths. Yuen was one of the scientists who studied SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, when it killed 299 people here after surfacing in southern China in November 2002.
WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said the first child who died tested negative for all types of influenza viruses. The second child tested positive for the flu but also suffered from an underlying metabolic disease. The third - a 7-year-old boy who died Tuesday - had both the flu and encephalitis.
Chow said authorities became concerned because five classmates of the 7-year-old boy have also been hospitalized. Officials have said that some of his classmates were believed to be suffering from the flu, and the government closed the school earlier this week.
The five classmates who were still hospitalized were in stable condition, Chow said.:tiphat: http://www.adn.com/24hour/healthscience/story/342678.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

The Yuen Long public middle school's alumni association elementary school once had 2 brothers the pneumonia to be hospitalized
2008-03-12 12:44

[ The on.cc special news ] erupts the flu Yuen Long public middle school alumni association elementary school, to Bureau of Education proposed on own initiative will suspend classes the request, the authority authorizes this school tomorrow to get up suspends classes. Assistant Director Chen Chihhsiung disclosed that, this school today had 99 people to ask for the sick leave, the absence rate exceed tenth, the most serious class is the second year student, some 12 people ask for the sick leave, as he understands it, this school once had 2 little brothers students previous Friday once because the pneumonia to enter the Tunmen hospital, is isolated the treatment, but already left the hospital. Today also has 18 students to leave early, but the partial students body is by no means ill, only is his/her family member worried the student is infected shifts to an earlier time is on vacation from school. In the school authorities short-term can thoroughly disinfect the school.:tiphat:

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babe...oncc/portal/breakingnews/Detail.do?id=8145339

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

13./03/2008, billion Thursday morning 08:16
no vacations

Caption that, Facing the stern epidemic situation, the medical care personnel stand alert, puts on protects the clothing and puts on the mouthpiece.

The medical bureau 2,000 ten thousand buys the medical treatment and nursing vacation
:tiphat:
​

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babe...al/news/localNews/Detail.do?type=odn&id=91784http://babelfish.altavista.com/babe...oncc/portal/breakingnews/Detail.do?id=8145258

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

An ear of 5,000 person compels to explode the hospital every day
13./03/2008, billion Thursday morning 08:20

[ Eastern Daily special news ] Guangzhou and the Shenzhen flu continues to wreak havoc, each big hospital crammed full contracts the human tide which the cold and each kind of respiratory tract infects, Guangzhou has the hospital to appear reaches as high as the nearly 5,000 people to ask every day to examine, but the resident generally to the flu cognition 夠, does not have the guardian not to even know the present is the flu peak... :tiphat: http://babelfish.altavista.com/babe...al/news/localNews/Detail.do?type=odn&id=91786

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Caption that, The kernel peaceful hospital asks to examine the child anxiously to rise five tenths, the department of pediatrics hospital ward already very full.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

13./03/2008, billion Thursday morning 08:55

Today strip

Caption that, The flu tide as soon as launches an attack receives, the entire port elementary school and the preschool now get up suspends classes. (Wang Chiach'ang absorbs)

More pictures

Monday the mountain deceives entire port school guardian

[ Eastern Daily special news ] more than 1 young boys doubt again in the flu epidemic disease tide lose their life, twenty on fourth the hospital does not govern in February in Crown Prince Wells, the command dies the child to increase to four, but the government last night late at night only then the low key announced this document, there seems to was concealed disliking of the epidemic situation. Flu eruption out of control,...:tiphat: http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr​

 

[Malcolm]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-03/13/content_6531649.htm


Authorities on toes monitoring flu

By Shan Juan, Lin Shujuan and Liang Qiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-13 07:31

Common factors are yet to be identified in the recent deaths of three children with flu-like symptoms in Hong Kong, said HK Secretary for Food & Health York Chow, citing initial results of an expert investigation.

Dr Chow pledged yesterday that the HK government would continue to monitor developments closely and conduct more flu tests to gain a clear picture of the outbreaks and determine whether they were spreading.

Related readings:
Flu claims 3rd child
The three young victims had all exhibited flu-like symptoms including running fever and coughing, according to Chow. Two of them, however, had tested negative to influenza A and B.

The HK government is yet to reveal the causes of the deaths, but is seeking special permission for early disclosure - for the sake of public health and safety, Chow noted.

On March 10, nine new reports of institutional outbreaks of flu-like illness surfaced involving 52 people at three kindergartens and six schools.

All local schools must report to the HK Education Bureau the number of students sick with the flu and the number subsequently admitted to hospital, said a notice on the HK government website.

It also stated that the Hospital Authority (HA), which manages HK's 42 public hospitals, must provide relevant figures and information to the Department of Health for follow-up.

When asked if schools would be closed, Chow said more justification was needed, as case numbers this flu season had reflected the previous two, but did not rule out the possibility of closing a particular school.

"It would depend on the outbreak situation, the severity of the illness, its infectiousness and social concern," he added.

Hu Dingxu, chairman of the HA, told China Daily yesterday special fever outpatient sections had been set up in hospitals to cut possible cross infections.

The number of emergency ward visitors is currently rising and the HA is deploying more resources to cope with the surge.

If necessary, the government will ramp up measures even further, Hu said.

In neighboring Guangdong province, more than 100 people in the capital city of Guangzhou came down with flu-like symptoms in the first 10 days of the month, a majority of whom tested positive to influenza, the municipal health bureau said yesterday.

Although no deaths have recorded there so far, the city's flu surveillance report confirmed the presence of the health menace.

"Nearly all patients are school children," Wang Yulin, a researcher with Guangzhou center for disease control and prevention (CDC), told China Daily yesterday.

"Due to the peak flu season, more people probably will contract influenza in the second half of March," Wang said. "(And) the surveillance and prevention of influenza would be strengthened."

The bureau requires all schools in the city to check for the presence of flu among students every morning. Outbreaks of more than five students have to be reported to the local CDC.

Students who have been infected cannot return to school until they have recovered for 48 hours, Wang added.

The deaths of children in HK were more likely caused by a viral infection, which is yet to be determined, said medical expert Zhong Nanshan.

"But there is no reason so far for the public to panic," he noted, citing no evidence of a widespread epidemic.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Hong Kong Flu-like Illness outbreak

Guangzhou different influenza virus outbreak in Hong Kong only to the current epidemic 8 <TABLE height=5 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="80%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle>

时间： 2008-03-13 09:19　来源： 南方都市报网络版​

Time: 2008-03-13 9:19 Source: Nanfang Dushi Bao online edition </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=5 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="80%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><HR color=#009efd SIZE=1></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=15 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="80%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=font_a cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=572 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!--enpproperty <date>2008-03-13 09:19:06.0</date><author>记者王瑾 通讯员黄穗</author><title>广州流感病毒不同香港 到目前只暴发8起疫情</title><keyword></keyword><subtitle></subtitle><introtitle></introtitle><siteid>4</siteid><nodeid>74833</nodeid><nodename>南粤大地</nodename><nodesearchname></nodesearchname>/enpproperty--><!--enpcontent-->In hong Kong before the outbreak of influenza epidemic to the public in Guangzhou "Heart Jingjing", but reporters yesterday (on the 12th) from the respiratory disease in Guangzhou spring meeting on the prevention and control work, Guangzhou this year's influenza epidemic is relatively stable, so far only eight outbreaks of influenza outbreak occurred in all schools, mainly for B-type influenza.

Compared to the epidemic and not increased over the years

According to the Guangzhou Municipal CDC to experts, this year 1-3 in Guangzhou eight outbreaks of influenza epidemic, which occurred in March alone, seven, all in school.

制。​

Among them, in addition to the current one in the Haizhu District primary outbreaks of influenza epidemic of more than 30 people, the rest are only a few cases, or more than 10 cases have been well controlled. Experts pointed out that, on the whole, the current influenza epidemic in Guangzhou Seasonal fluctuation trends consistent with previous years, mainly due to seasonal changes and growth in the number of outbreaks and no significant increase compared to previous years.

从今​

From the outbreak of this year, Guangzhou major influenza type B virus, and the Hong Kong flu of a different type 3 virus. However, the Health Bureau Disease Control Department deputy director-week, the view that, whether it is a type 1, A-3 or B-type influenza virus caused symptoms are generally lighter, only when there are other complications would be more dangerous, so the elderly people to take extra precautions.

学校要落实晨检制度​

Schools should examine morning newly implemented system

Although the epidemic in Guangzhou this year temporarily relatively stable, but entered on March 10多days from the outbreak of the epidemic or 7 marks Guangzhou has entered a period of high incidence of influenza. According to the experience of previous years, the annual March-July is the season of high Guangzhou influenza, the influenza epidemic if not effectively controlled, it will spread rapidly in the crowd as two years ago, in Guangzhou University City on the epidemic outbreak of influenza spread to the Shubaili patients. To avoid this situation, in yesterday's meeting, the Guangzhou City Health Bureau deputy director of Bear lofty influenza in the city to deploy air defense work. Health Board requested all schools to examine morning newly implemented system, and strengthen school clusters of influenza-like cases found that the collection, reporting and management reporting system, in the same dormitory or the same classes, one day or three cases within three consecutive days, there are more than five students influenza-like symptoms, and report to the local disease control. Fever should advise students on the timely treatment and go home, only to return 48 hours of cooling.

此外，​

In addition, the city's major hospitals have to do a good job in the pre-fever outpatient consultation to strengthen pediatric outpatient, emergency, medical clinic, respiratory and other preventive measures to prevent cross-infection. :tiphat: http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?h...uedadi/content/2008-03/13/content_4351372.htm
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