HONG KONG, PRC SAR: [3,673 cases, 2 deaths, 41 in hospital: 2 serious, 3 in critical, from April 26 to July 31, 2009]

[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Measures during mitigation phase (5/30/09)

The Steering Committee of Influenza Pandemic during Emergency Response Level, which is chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, had endorsed a number of measures at their meeting today (May 29) for the possible mitigation phase of human swine influenza pandemic, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Gabriel Leung, said at a press conference this afternoon.


Professor Leung said that if there was a local confirmed case of human swine influenza that has no epidemiological link to an imported index case, it would be the triggering point to signal that Hong Kong has entered the mitigation phase.

With the guiding principle of protecting the health of young children and to prevent large outbreaks in schools and generally in the community, classes of all primary schools, kindergartens, nurseries and other pre-schools would be suspended for up to 14 days when the first local case is confirmed.

Secondary schools and tertiary institutions would not be subjected to such a policy; however, if any school is found to have a confirmed case of human swine influenza, the school in question would be closed for 14 days, Professor Leung added.

As the internal assessment results in the second term of Primary five (P5) would be used for Secondary School Places Allocation purpose, schools and parents have concern over the examination arrangements of P5 students.

As such, should the schools' internal examination be affected by the class suspension, the Education Bureau would consider to make special arrangements for conducting P5 second term examination on the advice of health authorities.

"As the incubation period of influenza can be as long as seven days, a 14-day class suspension is based on the established public health basis of twice the incubation period," Professor Leung explained.

Upon the first confirmed local indigenous human swine influenza case, the Government would open seven designated flu clinics of the Hospital Authority. Depending on the development of the disease and demand, the Administration would further open up to 18 designated clinics.

Professor Leung noted that in the early mitigation period, medical surveillance plus chemoprophylaxis would continue for close contacts.

There would be no tracing for social contacts, and no quarantine practice.

In case of further large-scale outbreak, Tamiflu would be reserved for high risk or serious patients.

"Regardless of the phase of the epidemic, the Government would maintain the existing port health measures, including health declaration on arrival and infrared temperature screening, as a defense line against the disease," Professor Leung added.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Five more imported cases of human swine flu (5/30/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 29) said that the department is investigating five newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 20 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The first case involved a 21-year-old woman studying in the United States. She and her friend returned to Hong Kong on May 28 from Los Angeles by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX881). They wore face masks and sat in row 43 of the flight. The patient took an airport bus to her home in Ching Wah Court, Tsing Yi. She had onset of fever and runny nose after arriving home. She called DH's hotline 2125 1111 and was subsequently taken to Princess Margaret Hospital by ambulance for isolation. Her home contacts are asymptomatic. Her travel companion has gone to the Mainland.

The second case involved a 21-year-old woman working in San Francisco. She arrived in Hong Kong on May 29 from San Francisco by a flight of Singapore Airlines (flight no. SQ1, codeshare Air India AI8001 and US Airways US5402). The patient developed sore throat, cough, headache and fever on May 28 before boarding the flight and had vomited on the plane shortly before landing. She wore a face mask and sat in row 41 of the flight. She was intercepted by Port Health Office and was transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital by ambulance for isolation.

The third case involved a 21-year-old man, studying in Massachusetts. He and his friend left the United States on May 24 for Seoul where they took a flight of Korean Air (flight no. KE607) to Hong Kong on May 26. The patient had onset of fever, sore throat and runny nose on May 28. He went to North District Hospital (NDH) by taxi and was admitted. As he had onset of symptoms more than 12 hours after he arrived Hong Kong, Centre for Health Protection would not trace the flight passengers of KE607. His family contacts are asymptomatic.

The fourth and the fifth cases involved a 24-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. They arrived in Hong Kong on May 27 from New York by a flight of Continental Airlines (flight no. CO099). The man developed headache and fever on May 25 and the symptoms subsided after self medication while the woman had onset of headache, fever and sore throat on May 28 after arriving in Hong Kong. They sat in row 24 of the flight. Investigation showed that the man's cousin took the two to his home in Kin Yip Court by taking an airport bus. His cousin also developed fever on May 28. The three patients, accompanied by the man's aunt sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) by taxi on May 28. All four of them wore masks in the taxi. The three patients were admitted for isolation. Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from the man's cousin yielded negative result for human swine influenza. His aunt and uncle are asymptomatic. Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from the five patients yielded positive result for human swine influenza today.

DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 40-46 of CX881 arrived in Hong Kong on May 28, those sitting in rows 38-44 of SQ1 arrived in Hong Kong on May 29, those sitting in row 21-27 of CO099 arriving in Hong Kong on May 27, and crew members of the flights concerned who had served the cabins concerned as well as other close contact of the five patients.

Passengers who had travelled on the three concerned flights are urged to call the DH's Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111.

The spokesman also urged the two taxi drivers who took the 21-year-old male patient from Wan Ming Estate, Fanling to NDH, or took four persons from Kin Yip Court, Chai Wan to PYNEH in the afternoon of May 28 to call the hotline. Investigations into the five cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. "To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are. "If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/30/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 30 hours to 5pm today (May 29), 90 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"31 of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 54 are pending, and the remaining five have tested positive for human swine influenza," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 713 cases reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing have been received, and 639 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 3,797 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are. "If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: New Health declaration forms (5/30/09)

All passengers arriving in Hong Kong would be required to complete a new health declaration form starting Monday (June 1), a spokesman for the Department of Health said today (May 29).


The new health declaration forms would facilitate public health officers to carry out contact tracing more effectively in case of detection of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) among travellers entering Hong Kong, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the difference between the existing health declaration form and the new one to be introduced in June was that the latter would require travellers to fill in more information including the seat numbers of the flight, ship or vehicle concerned, their destinations for the next seven days after arriving Hong Kong and the transport to be used and ways of contacts in those seven days.

The new health declaration forms are being delivered to airlines for distribution onboard.

More forms will be made available at the Hong Kong International Airport and all boundary control points.

The completed forms will be collected before travellers go through the immigration control points.

"Under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, any person who fails to give information or knowingly gives information that is false to a health officer commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 and to imprisonment for six months," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Three more imported cases of human swine influenza (5/30/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 30) said that the department was investigating three newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 23 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The first case involved a 21-year-old man. He stayed in the United States from May 15 to 27 and returned to Hong Kong on May 28 from New York by taking a flight of Continental Airlines(flight no. CO099). He wore a face mask during the flight and sat in row 23. The patient took Airport Express to Tsing Yi where he took a taxi to his home in Cheung Hang Estate, Kwai Tsing. He had onset of headache in the middle of the flight and developed fever and sore throat after arriving home. He stayed at home during that night. He consulted a private doctor in the morning of May 29. The doctor referred him to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) by ambulance. His family members are asymptomatic.

The second case involved an eight-year-old boy living in the United States. The boy, accompanied with three family members, arrived in Hong Kong on May 30 from San Francisco by taking a flight of Singapore Airlines (flight no. SQ1). The boy developed fever, cough, runny nose and malaise during the flight. He sat in row 39 of the flight. He was intercepted by Port Health Office and was transferred to PMH by ambulance for isolation. His mother stayed with him in Hong Kong while his father and sister had gone to the Mainland this morning. They were asymptomatic.

The third case involve a 19-year-old woman studying in the United States. She returned to Hong Kong from New York in the evening of May 28. She and her mother took an airport bus to Wan Tsui Estate in Eastern District. On May 29, she went to China Travel Agency in Shau Kei Wan and to Immigration Department in Wan Chai to apply for some documents. She had onset of fever, cough and sore throat in the afternoon. Her mother took her to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital by minibus and was admitted for isolation. She wore a face mask on the journey. Her family contacts are asymptomatic. As she had onset of symptoms more than 12 hours after he arrived Hong Kong, CHP would not trace the flight passengers.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from the three patients yielded positive results for human swine influenza today.

DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 20-26 of CO099 arrived in Hong Kong on May 28 and those sitting in rows 36-42 of SQ1 arrived in Hong Kong on May 30, and crew members of the flights concerned who had served the affected section of the cabin concerned as well as other close contact of the three patients.

Passengers who had travelled on the two concerned flights are urged to call the DH's Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111.

The spokesman also urged the taxi driver who took the 21-year-old male patient from Tsing Yi to Cheung Hang Estate on May 28 to call the hotline. Investigations into the three cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. "To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are. "If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/31/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said there was no newly confirmed case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) in Hong Kong today (May 31).


In the 24 hours to 6 pm today, 64 people were required to undergo human swine influenza testing.

"Twenty-five of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 39 are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 849 cases reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing have been received, and 770 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 3,577 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[HenryN]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

List of arrival flight(s) with confirmed case(s) of Swine Influenza in the past 7 days​

過去七日曾有確診人類豬型流行性感冒個案之抵港航班名單​

As of 6 pm, 31 May 2009 (​

​

​

​

​

截至2009 年5 月31 日, 下午6 時)
Flight number 航班編號/ (codeshare 聯營航班) Departure city 出發地 Arrival date 抵港時間​

SQ1/AI8001/US5402​

​

​

​

San Francisco 三藩市 30/5/2009
SQ1/AI8001/US5402 San Francisco 三藩市 29/5/2009
CX881/AA6119 Los Angeles 洛杉磯 28/5/2009
CO099 Newark 紐瓦克28/5/2009
CO099 Newark 紐瓦克27/5/2009
KE607/DL7897 Seoul 首爾26/5/2009
AC015/ TG5896 Toronto 多倫多 26/5/2009
KE613 Seoul 首爾24/5/2009
CX841/ AA6073 New York 紐約24/5/2009
CX873/ AA6117 San Francisco 三藩市23/5/2009​

KE607/ DL7897 Seoul 首爾 22/5/2009

http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/List_of_arrival_flights.pdf

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/1/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said there was no newly confirmed case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) in Hong Kong today (June 1).


In the 24 hours to 6pm today, 80 people were required to undergo human swine influenza testing.

"Forty of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 40 are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, 928 cases reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing have been received, and 858 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 4,159 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on people to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/2/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that in the 24 hours to 6pm today (June 2), 66 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"Thirty-three of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 30 are pending, and the remaining three have tested positive for human swine influenza," the spokesman said.

So far, 994 cases reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing have been received, and 937 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 4,303 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on people to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Three new imported cases of human swine influenza (6/2/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (June 2) said that the department was investigating three newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 26 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The first case involved an eight-year-old boy living in Puerto Rico. The boy, accompanied by his mother, a younger brother and three members of another family left Puerto Rico on May 28 for New York where they took a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX831) to Hong Kong on May 29. The boy and his mother and brother took an airbus to a relative's home in Wah Ming Estate, Fanling. The boy had onset of sore throat and cough in the evening of May 30. The symptoms subsided after taking over-the-counter medications. He developed fever on June 1 and consulted a private doctor in Wah Ming Estate. He was referred to North District Hospital by ambulance for isolation. His family members are asymptomatic.

The second case involved a 19-year-old man studying in San Francisco. He returned to Hong Kong on May 30 from San Francisco by taking a flight of Singapore Airlines (flight no. SQ1) The man stayed with his mother, a younger sister, a cousin and a domestic helper in Kai Tak Garden, Wong Tai Sin. He developed shortness of breath and headache in the morning of May 31 and had onset of fever in the afternoon. He was taken to Kwong Wah Hospital by ambulance on June 1 for isolation. His family contacts are asymptomatic.

The third case involved a 20-year-old man studying in New York. He returned to Hong Kong on May 28 by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX889). He developed fever, headache and cough in the evening of June 1. He, accompanied by two sisters, took a taxi to the United Christian Hospital (UCH). He was admitted for isolation. His family members are asymptomatic.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from the three patients yielded positive results for human swine influenza today. As the three patients had onset of symptoms more than 12 hours after arriving Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection would not trace the passengers of the flights concerned.

DH is now tracing the close contact of the three patients.

The spokesman urged the taxi driver who took the 20-year-old male patient and two women from Lok Wah North Estate, Kwun Tong to UCH on June 1 at around 11pm to call DH hotline 2125 1111.

Investigations into the three cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: LCQ19: Preventive and control measures of infectious diseases (6/3/09)

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 3):


Question:
Regarding the arrangements for operators of cross-boundary public transport by sea, land and air to report to the authorities concerned suspected cases of infectious diseases (e.g. the human swine influenza which has broken out recently) found on their vehicles, will the Government inform this Council:

• (a) under what circumstances the various operators are required to report such cases on their own initiative;
• (b) which types of infectious diseases are required to be reported, what criteria the authorities use in compiling the relevant list of infectious diseases, the existing mechanism for reviewing and revising the list; and whether the authorities have comprehensively reviewed the mechanism in response to the recent human swine influenza epidemic;
• (c) which units under the Department of Health are responsible for following up the cases reported by the operators, and how these units coordinate other government departments and relevant organisations (e.g. the Airport Authority and the Hospital Authority) to adopt measures to prevent the spread of an epidemic;
• (d) whether the operators' failure to report such cases on their own initiative constitutes a breach of the relevant international conventions; if it does not, how the authorities ensure that the operators will do so or encourage them to do so; and
• (e) whether it has made suggestions to the operators on the ways to keep the personal particulars of their passengers and the period for keeping such information, in order to trace the transmission routes of infectious diseases?

Reply:
President,

• (a) According to section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599A), if the operator of a cross-boundary conveyance has reason to suspect that there exists on the cross-boundary conveyance a case or source of a specified infectious disease, he or she shall notify a health officer immediately.
• (b) Infectious diseases notifiable under section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599A) include infectious diseases specified in Schedule 1 and those caused by the infectious agents specified in Schedule 2 to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap 599). Please refer to Annex for details. The Administration needs to consider a number of factors in determining whether a particular infectious disease should become statutorily notifiable. These factors include the prevalence and severity of the disease or condition, outbreak potential of the disease, existence of reliable diagnostic method, availability of effective personal or public health intervention and other better surveillance methods, World Health Organisation or international surveillance and reporting requirements, and the possibility that the disease would be used as a biological weapon, etc. In order to provide maximal protection to the local community against infectious diseases, the Director of Health regularly reviews the list of notifiable infectious diseases to ensure that it reflects the latest epidemiology and the changing circumstances of epidemic. This will strengthen disease surveillance and enable the implementation of effective public health preventive and control measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in Hong Kong.
• (c) Upon receipt of notification of suspected cases of an infectious disease by operators of cross-boundary conveyances, the Department of Health (DH) will coordinate the efforts of other Government departments and relevant organisations, including airline companies, the Airport Authority and the Hospital Authority to take immediate follow-up actions on the cases, with a view to controlling and preventing the spread of diseases. The Port Health Office (PHO) under the DH has established "Health Posts" at all air, sea and land control points to provide preliminary health screening and assessment for inbound travellers suspected to have been infected with an infectious disease. The PHO will send travellers found to have obvious symptoms of an infectious disease for further diagnosis in public hospitals, and arrange those who have been infected to receive treatment in isolation ward where necessary. On the other hand, upon confirmation of an infected case on aircraft, airline companies will provide information on other passengers who have been in close contact with the infected passenger to the DH for follow-up.
• (d) As mentioned in part (a) of this reply, section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599A) provides that operators of cross-boundary conveyances are required to notify a health officer of any suspected case of a specified infectious disease. Contravention of this provision is an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 (currently HK$10,000) and to imprisonment for 6 months on conviction. If flight attendants suspect that a passenger on board has been infected with an infectious disease, they can seek assistance from the PHO and refer the suspected case to the PHO for further assessment and action. The DH will continue to maintain communication with operators of cross-boundary conveyances, and to facilitate their compliance with the relevant statutory requirements through organising working conferences, briefings and drills for the operators and issuing to them various guidelines.
• (e) At present, some of the operators of cross-boundary conveyances such as airline companies have already put in place a mechanism to keep the personal particulars of individual passengers. Besides, the newly revised health declaration form already in distribution also requires cross-boundary travellers to provide the number of the vehicle, ship or flight they took, together with other information such as the seat number. This is to ensure that in the event that a confirmed case of an infectious disease is found on any conveyance, swift tracing of passengers who have been in close contact with the infected person could be carried out.

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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Central & Western District campaign to help clean old buildings (with photos) (6/3/09)

The Central & Western District Office today (June 3) launched the Old Building Cleansing Campaign in an effort to prevent the spread of human swine flu in the community and to tie in with the Clean Hong Kong Campaign.


In this one-week-Old Building Cleansing Campaign, the cleaning contractor of the Central & Western District Office will help clean the common areas of about 40 old buildings in the district, which are 30 or more years old and many of them without any form of management body.

The campaign is aimed at improving the buildings' hygiene conditions and also raise the awareness of residents on buildings' cleanliness, in an effort to prevent the spread of human swine flu in the community.

The Central & Western District Officer, Mrs Winnie Ho; Central & Western District Council Chairman, Mr Chan Tak-chor; Food and Environmental Hygiene Department District Environmental Hygiene Superintendent (Central/Western) Mr Fan Yung-kai; and District Councilors including Mr Chan Hok-fung, Mr Chung Yam-cheung, Mr Nelson Wong Kin-shing, Mr Yuen Bun-keung and Ms Cheng Lai-king, inspected several old buildings in Central and Kennedy Town today and showed their support for the cleansing action.

Mrs Ho said, "Besides household and personal hygiene, hygiene conditions of buildings are also vital in the fight against human swine flu. The aim of the Old Building Cleansing Campaign organised by the Central & Western District Office is to help clean the common areas of about 40 old buildings in the district, as a way to promote the important message of building cleanliness. The District Office will continue to work closely with owners' organisations in the district to encourage and promote buildings cleaning activities."

Mr Chan said, "The Central & Western District Council pays much attention to the hygiene condition of the buildings.We hope to raise owners' and residents' awareness on building cleanliness through this event."

The District Council will continue to work closely with the District Office to promote the message of fighting against human swine flu in the community.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: One more new imported case of human swine influenza (6/3/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (June 3) said that the department was investigating a newly confirmed case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 27 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The case involved a 34-year-old man who returned to Hong Kong with his wife from New York by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX831, codeshare American Airlines AA6091) in the evening of June 2. He sat in row 34 of the flight. The couple took the Airport Express to Central where they went to their home in Villa Monte Rosa, Wan Chai by taxi.

DH's investigation showed that the man had onset of headache, fever and myalgia in the morning of June 3. His driver took the couple to the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital where the man was transferred to Ruttonjee Hospital by ambulance. He was admitted for isolation. He was later transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. His family members and the driver are asymptomatic.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from the patient yielded positive results for human swine influenza today.

DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 31-37 of CX831 arrived in Hong Kong on June 2 and crew members who had served the affected section concerned as well as other close contacts of the patient.

Passengers who had travelled on the flight concerned are urged to call the DH's hotline 2125 1111.

The spokesman also called on the taxi driver who took the 34-year-old man and a woman from Central to Villa Monte Rosa in the evening of June 2 to call DH hotline.

Investigation into the case is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on passengers who took a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX889) to Hong Kong on May 28 to contact DH hotline as eight other passengers, three of them from the same family, onboard the flight who subsequently went to Fujian were confirmed to have infected with human swine influenza by the Mainland health authority.

Furthermore, the spokesman appealed to the members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. "To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are. "If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/3/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 6pm today (June 3), 57 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"Twenty-three of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 33 are pending and the remaining one has tested positive for human swine influenza," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 1,051 cases have been reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing, and 990 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 4,433 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/4/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 6pm today (June 4), 38 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"Fourteen of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 21 are pending and the remaining three has tested positive for human swine influenza," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 1,089 cases have been reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing, and 1,038 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 4,544 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Three new imported cases of human swine influenza (6/4/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (June 4) said that the department was investigating three newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 30 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The first case involved an 11-year-old boy living in Boston. The boy, accompanied by his parents and an elder brother left Boston on June 2 for Chicago where they took a flight of United Airlines (flight no. UA895) to Hong Kong on June 3. The boy developed cough on May 30, and runny nose and fever on May 31.

His symptoms improved on June 2. The boy sat in row 23 and wore a face mask in the flight. He was intercepted by Port Health Office and was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) by ambulance. His family members are asymptomatic.

The second case involved a six-year-old boy living in Australia. He, accompanied by his parents and two brothers arrived in Hong Kong on May 31 from Melbourne by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX168). He sat in row 69 of the flight. The family took a taxi from the Airport to L Hotel Nina et Convention Centre in Tsuen Wan. They stayed at a room on 30th floor. The boy developed nausea and vomiting in the evening of May 31. He had onset of cough and fever on June 1 and June 2 respectively. He was taken to the Out Patient Department of Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital in the morning of June 4. He was transferred to PMH by ambulance for isolation. His family contacts are asymptomatic.

The third case involved a 40-year-old man who stayed in the United States from May 18 to 31. He returned to Hong Kong on June 1 from New York by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific (flight no. CX841). He sat in row 20 and wore a face mask in the flight. DH's investigation showed that the man drove to Lok Ma Chau in the evening of June 1. He stayed in the He Yuan in Guangdong until June 3 when he developed headache, cough, runny nose and fever. He drove back to Lok Ma Chau and was intercepted by Port Health Office. He was sent to PMH by ambulance for isolation.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the three patients yielded positive results for human swine influenza today.

DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 20-25 of UA895 arrived in Hong Kong on June 3, those sitting in rows 66-70 of CX168 arrived in Hong Kong on May 31, and crew members of the flights concerned who had served the cabins concerned as well as other close contacts of the three patients.

The spokesman urged the taxi drivers who took a five-member family from the Airport to L Hotel Nina et Convention Centre in Tsuen Wan on May 31 about 10am and took the family from the hotel to Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital at about 6am in the morning of June 4 to call DH hotline 2125 1111.

Investigations into the three cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: School suspends classes for a gastroenteritis outbreak (6/5/09)

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health advised a primary school to suspend classes from tomorrow (June 6) to next Tuesday (June 9) after receiving report of a gastroenteritis outbreak involving 41 students and a staff member of the school today (June 5).


The school concerned is "Kowloon Junior School" in Ho Man Tin.

Investigation by the CHP revealed that 41 students, comprising 21 boys and 20 girls aged between 5 and 6, and a female staff member had developed symptoms of gastroenteritis, including diarrhea, vomiting and fever since June 3.

Thirty of them sought medical attention.

Two of the affected girls were admitted to private hospitals. They are in stable condition.

The spokesman said that the CHP advised the school to suspend classes for thorough cleansing and disinfection.

"This is a precautionary measure to prevent further spreading of disease in the school. The CHP is closely monitoring the health condition of the students.

"We have conducted a field visit to the school and provided advice on infection control measures to the staff.

The CHP will continue to monitor the situation" the spokesman said.

The school management will notify parents of the class suspension arrangements. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene.

To prevent gastroenteritis, people are advised to-

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating or preparing food and after using toilet or handling vomitus or faecal matter;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked.

Members of the public can obtain more information on the prevention of gastroenteritis from CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Unit hotline, 2833 0111.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/5/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said there was no newly confirmed case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) in Hong Kong today (June 5).


In the 24 hours to 6 pm today, 47 people were required to undergo human swine influenza testing.

"Thirty-two of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 15 are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 1,136 cases have been reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing, and 1,091 of them have tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 4,655 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Three new imported cases of human swine influenza (6/6/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (June 6) said that the department was investigating three newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


This brings to 33 the total number of human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong. All of them are imported cases.

The first newly confirmed case involved a 20-year-old woman studying in Switzerland. She left Geneva for London by a flight of British Airways (flight no. BA 729) on June 4. She then travelled to Hong Kong by BA 025 and arrived at about 2 pm on June 5. She sat in row 34 and put on a mask during the journey as she developed cough on the flight. She was intercepted by Port Health officers at the airport as she had declared discomfort in the health declaration form. She was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) by ambulance for isolation.

The second case involved an 18-year-old man studying in Toronto. He returned to Hong Kong on June 4 by taking a flight of Cathy Pacific Airlines (flight no. CX 827). He sat in row 34 and had onset of cough on the flight.He had put on a mask on the flight. He was intercepted at the airport by Port Health staff as he had failed to pass temperature screening. However, he reported asymptomatic both in the health declaration form and during interview at the health post. He was put under 7-day medical surveillance, requiring to observe his health condition and seek medical attention immediately if necessary. The man was greeted by his parents at the airport and they took a green taxi to their home at Block 13, Chevalier Garden, Ma On Shan. He then sought medical treatment at a private clinic in the evening. On June 5, the man went to Immigration Department in Fo Tan with his mother on a red taxi to apply for some documents. Both of them then took another red taxi to Prince of Wales Hospital where the man was admitted for isolation. The man lives with his parents who are asymptomatic.

The third case is a 25-year-old woman who left for Canada with her grandmother on May 23. She returned to Hong Kong alone from Vancouver on June 3 by taking a flight of Cathy Pacific airlines (flight no.CX 839). She lives in Chung Chi House, Chung On Estate in Ma On Shan. The woman went to her office in Central in the morning of June 5 and had onset of cough in the afternoon. She had fever this morning. She, accompanied by her mother, sought medical attention at a private clinic in Chung On Estate and was advised to attend public hospital for further management. The two took a taxi to PMH about noon where the 25-year-old woman was admitted for isolation.

Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the three patients yielded positive results for human swine influenza today.

DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 33-36 of BA025 arrived in Hong Kong on June 5 and those sitting in rows 31-37 of CX 827 arrived in Hong Kong on June 4, and crew members of the flights concerned who had served the affected sections of the cabins concerned as well as other close contact of the two patients. Passengers who had travelled on the two concerned flights are urged to call the DH hotline 2125 1111.

As the third patient had onset of symptoms more than 12 hours after arriving Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection would not trace the passengers of the flight concerned.

The spokesman urged the taxi drivers who took the man and his parents from the airport to Chevalier Garden in the afternoon of June 4, or who took the man and his mother from Chevalier to the office of Immigration Department in Fo Tan in the morning of June 5, or from Fo Tan to Prince of Wales Hospital at about 12.30 pm on June 5 to call the hotline.

Taxi driver who had taken two women from Chung On Estate to PMH before noon today is also advised to call the hotline. Investigations into the three cases are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (6/6/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that in the 24 hours to 6pm today (June 6), 50 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


''36 of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other 13 are pending, and the remaining 1 has tested positive for human swine influenza," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 1,186 cases have been reported to the CHP for human swine influenza testing, and 1,140 of them have tested negative.

To 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 4,710 calls since it was set up on April 30.

In light of the detection of new imported human swine influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they develop symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

''To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.

''If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately,'' the spokesman said.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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