2 Feb 2009
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is liaising with the Malaysian health authority about the cause of a Hong Kong boy's death in Kuala Lumpur, including the possibility that he died of an infectious disease.
A CHP spokesman today (February 2) said that CHP had contacted the deceased boy's relatives in Hong Kong for a history of his illness.
According to the information provided, the six-year-old boy developed fever and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection on January 21 in Hong Kong. He consulted a private doctor and was given some medications. He flew to Malaysia on January 25. The child’s illness seemed to have subsided until he experienced knee pain and swelling on January 28. He was seen by a doctor in Penang on January 29.
The boy travelled with his family on flight CX720 from Penang to Hong Kong on the morning of January 31. During the flight's scheduled transit in Kuala Lumpur, the boy was found to be increasingly unwell and was taken to a medical clinic in Kuala Lumpur. He passed away a few hours later.
While awaiting confirmation from the Malaysian health authority about the nature of the disease, the spokesman said, "As a precautionary measure, the CHP is contacting the child's family and will follow up on travel companions having close contact with the child to assess their health condition, provide health advice and put them under medical surveillance."
Members of the public are advised to observe good personal and food hygiene when travelling abroad:
* Travelling should be avoided if you are having a fever or feeling unwell.
* Keep hands clean at all times. Wash hands with liquid soap after going to the toilet, before meals or handling food, and after touching public installations or equipment. Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth; if unavoidable, wash hands before touching them. If hand washing facilities are not available, clean hands with a disinfectant containing alcohol.
* Have masks handy and put one on if developing symptoms of a respiratory tract infection.
* If you develop symptoms of an infection, such as fever and diarrhoea, after the trip, consult a doctor promptly and provide details of recent travel to facilitate accurate diagnosis.