DH's response to reporting of a suspected TB case

30 Jun 2008

In response to media enquiries concerning the reporting of a suspected tuberculosis (TB) case by a private hospital, a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (June 30) reiterated that the department took a vigilant stand on this incident.

"A letter has been sent to the hospital reminding the management to look into its internal reporting procedures. The hospital gave a positive response in enhancing its reporting and workflow arrangement to ensure timely reporting," the spokesman said.

He said that under the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance, registered medical practitioners were obliged to report statutory notifiable diseases including (TB) to DH, whether it was suspected or confirmed.

"Timely notification is important for the effective control and prevention of infectious diseases.

"Positive finding of sputum test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycobacterium TB constitutes sufficient suspicion to make a notification to DH," the spokesman said.

Regarding the case involving a 29-year-old woman, the spokesman said the culture for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) conducted by Queen Mary Hospital showed no growth of the TB bacterium after more than nine weeks and it was determined a negative test result.

DH will continue to liaise with health authorities in the United Kingdom, where the patient concerned passed away on April 24, to ascertain the culture results there.

Meanwhile, the two patients diagnosed with TB during contact tracing had received treatment and recovering well. One of them was diagnosed to have active TB (non-open TB) and the other was diagnosed to have latent TB infection.

"Since the incubation period of TB is comparatively long, we consider it unlikely that their condition was related to the 29-year-old woman, whose diagnosis of TB is yet to be determined," the spokesman said.