Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

[emmysue]

(Found these 2 articles. Seems like they are taking this seriously, although it says that flu tests were negative.)

May 12, 2006
7 patients develop respiratory infection
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/060512/html/060512en05010.htm

Seven patients on a female ward in Siu Lam Hospital have developed fever and respiratory symptoms, the Hospital Authority says.

Aged 29 to 58, the patients are now in a stable condition. One of the patients is asymptomatic while the other six have been transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital and are being treated in isolation.

The influenza A and B test results of four patients were negative while the results for the other three patients are still pending.

Infection control measures on the ward concerned have been stepped up. Admission to and discharge from the ward have been suspended, while the visiting policy remains normal.

Patients' relatives have been informed about the situation. All other patients and staff in the ward are under close surveillance.

The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection.

and today:

May 16, 2006
2 more patients develop respiratory infection
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/060516/txt/060516en05014.htm

Two patients on a female ward in Siu Lam Hospital have developed fever and respiratory symptoms following an earlier report of seven cases on the same ward.

Aged 38 and 52, the two patients have been transferred to the isolation ward of Tuen Mun Hospital and are in a stable condition. Tests have been carried out.

Infection control measures on the ward concerned have been stepped up. Admission to and discharge from the ward have been suspended, while the visiting policy remains normal.

All other patients and staff on the ward are under close surveillance.

The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection.

 

[Theresa42]

Re: Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

Yikes! Good (or should I say bad?) find, emmysue. Thanks!

 

[KC]

Re: Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

Aged 29 to 58, the patients are now in a stable condition. One of the patients is asymptomatic while the other six have been transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital and are being treated in isolation.

Why would someone be in a hospital and labeled a patient if they were asymptomatic and not testing postive for something?

Infection control measures on the ward concerned have been stepped up. Admission to and discharge from the ward have been suspended, while the visiting policy remains normal.

Thats another concern worth looking at.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

KC:

Maybe it's hypervigilance. The patient may be a close contact with high likelyhood of infection.

.

 

[emmysue]

Re: Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/060518/txt/060518en05004.htm
May 18, 2006

Surveillance
2 more patients develop respiratory infection

Two more patients on a female ward in Siu Lam Hospital have developed fever and respiratory symptoms, bringing the total cases to 12.

Aged 20 and 40, the patients have been transferred to the isolation ward of Tuen Mun Hospital and are in stable condition.

Infection-control measures on the ward concerned have been stepped up. Admission to and discharge from the ward have been suspended, while the visiting policy remains normal.

All other patients and staff on the ward are under close surveillance.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection.

 

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: Hong Kong Respiratory Infection

What do they know that we don't? Hong Kong has been very open in the past with H5N1 infections. Do they really still not know what the virus is, is it yet another emerging virus, or least likely, have they now decided to hide bf patients? I am not keen on the growing numbers although it seems linear at this point. (Given they are all in quarantine perhaps linear was spoken too soon.)