18 June 2014
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 18) received notifications from Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) respectively of two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
The first case is a 56-year-old woman with good past health who travelled to Jordan and Tunisia from May 29 to June 8. She presented with cough since June 10 and sought medical consultation from Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic today. She was then admitted to Tseung Kwan O Hospital. She has been in a stable condition and her travel collateral remains asymptomatic.
The other case is a 48-year-old man with good past health who travelled to Doha from June 15 to 17. He presented with fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea today and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of AHNH where he was subsequently admitted. He has been stable all along. His home contact and travel collateral and remain asymptomatic.
The two patients had no contact history with camels and other animals or sick persons during their visits. Their respiratory specimens will be taken for preliminary laboratory tests by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP.
"We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East not to arrange camel rides and activities involving camel contact, which may increase the risk of infection. In addition, travellers are reminded to avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, and avoid contact with animals, especially camels, birds, poultry or sick people during travel," a spokesman for the DH added.
"Recent scientific studies supported the premise that camels served as the primary source of MERS-CoV infecting humans. A study further suggested that human MERS-CoV infections could be transmitted through close contact with infected camels," the spokesman explained.
Locally, the DH's surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals and practising doctors and at the airport is well in place. Suspected cases identified will be sent to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.
"MERS is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and the PHLSB is capable of detecting the virus. No human cases have been recorded so far in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
"The Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information. Whenever there is a suspected case, particularly involving patients with travel history to the Middle East, the CHP will release information to the public as soon as possible," the spokesman added.
Early identification of MERS-CoV is important, but not all cases can be detected in a timely manner, especially mild or atypical cases. Health-care workers (HCWs) should maintain vigilance and adhere to strict infection control measures while handling suspected or confirmed cases to reduce the risk of transmission to other patients, HCWs or visitors. Regular education should be provided.
Travellers returning from the Middle East who develop respiratory symptoms should wear face masks, seek medical attention and report their travel history to the doctor. HCWs should arrange MERS-CoV testing for them. Patients' lower respiratory tract specimens should be tested when possible and repeat testing should be undertaken when clinical and epidemiological clues strongly suggest MERS.
Travellers are reminded to take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene:
The public may visit the CHP's MERS page ( www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html ), the DH's Travel Health Service ( www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html ) or the latest news of the World Health Organization ( www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en/ ) for more information and health advice.
Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice against MERS ( www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html ).