25 August 2015
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 25) called on the public to be vigilant against common communicable diseases in the new school year, and to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene.
"We should remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), chickenpox, influenza and other infectious diseases may surge after school resumes based on surveillance data of previous years," a spokesman for the CHP said.
In 2015, the activity of HFMD started to increase in May and remained at a high level in August. The number of EV71 infections was similar to that in the same period of last year while the number of severe enterovirus infections (SE) other than EV71 and poliovirus was less than that of the same period last year. As of August 23, there were 49 EV71 infections (including five with severe complications) this year as compared with 59 EV71 infections reported in the same period in 2014. For SE infections, seven were recorded this year while 17 were filed in the same period last year.
Regarding chickenpox, the number of cases usually starts to rise in October and peaks in December and January. It may also cause institutional outbreaks commonly, mostly in child care centres (CCCs) and kindergartens (KGs), as well as primary and secondary schools.
Moreover, the CHP's routine surveillance has revealed that 22 severe paediatric influenza-associated complications were reported this year as of August 23, including one death in the last winter influenza season, while 27 (four deaths) and 13 (no deaths) were recorded in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Schools are places where many people may be affected if there is mosquito breeding and local transmission of dengue fever. As of August 23, there were 65 confirmed cases of dengue fever comprising 64 imported cases and one local case.
To prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases, students/children who develop skin rash, fever, acute respiratory symptoms, diarrhoea or vomiting are strongly advised not to attend school and should seek medical advice. Furthermore, CCCs, KGs and schools should take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, such as reminding students/children and staff members to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene and avoid the sharing of clothing and slippers among students/children.
The CHP issued letters to CCCs, KGs and primary and secondary schools today to remind them of the necessary measures against outbreaks in schools and institutions. Managements may refer to the CHP's guidelines ( www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/guidelines_on_prevention_of_communicable_diseases_in_schools_kindergartens_kindergartens_cum_child_care-centres_child_are_centres.pdf ) for details.
The public may visit the CHP's pages below for more disease information: