29 Apr 2009
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (April 29), CHP did not receive any reports on patients fulfilling human swine influenza A (H1N1) reporting criteria.
As for the seven patients fulfilling the reporting criteria reported earlier to CHP, five of them were tested negative to swine influenza A (H1N1), the spokesman said.
Specimens taken from two remaining two patents yielded positive results for human influenza A H3 subtype and human influenza A H1 subtype respectively, he added.
The spokesman strongly advised residents to avoid all non-essential travel to human swine flu affected areas, particularly Mexico.
"Travellers in the affected places should pay attention to announcements made by the local government and follow health guidelines issued.
"People who have returned from the affected places should wear a surgical mask for seven days as a precautionary measure.
"If they present with fever, cough, sore throat or have difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention immediately. They should also inform their doctors about their travel history.
He reminded members of the public to strictly observe the following measures to prevention infection:
* Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Alcohol-based hand rub is also effective when hands are not visibly soiled;
* Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth;
* Wash hands with liquid soap promptly if they are contaminated by respiratory tract secretions, e.g. after sneezing or coughing;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharges properly;
* Always wrap nasal and mouth discharges with tissue paper, and dispose of the tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
* Wear a surgical mask when symptoms of respiratory tract infection or fever develop. Seek medical advice promptly;
* Refrain from going to work or school if you develop symptoms of influenza.
A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (
www.chp.gov.hk
).