Press Release

Notification of confirmed case of MERS-CoV in Austria

2 October 2014

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 2) received notification from the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) of a confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Austria, in which a close contact of the patient was a Hong Kong resident.

According to the WPRO, the patient is a 29-year-old female citizen of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She travelled to Vienna, Austria on a flight from Doha, Qatar on September 22. She was symptomatic with an upper respiratory infection and fever prior to arrival in Austria. She was admitted to a local private hospital on September 26 and was laboratory confirmed on September 29. She is in stable condition. The WPRO notified the CHP today that a close contact of the patient was a Hong Kong resident who sat within two rows from the patient on the same flight.

"Acting on the information provided by the WPRO, the CHP has successfully contacted this Hong Kong passenger, a 37-year-old man, who is now asymptomatic in Poland. He is a tour group leader. The CHP is contacting the health authorities of Poland and will follow up on the case and provide necessary assistance as needed," a spokesman for the CHP said.

Furthermore, there are 42 tour group members who travelled with the tour group leader but all of them were not seated within two rows from the patient on the same flight and hence they are not classified as close contact of the patient. They will come back to Hong Kong from Poland on October 4 as scheduled. As a precautionary measure, they will be put under medical surveillance upon arrival in Hong Kong.

"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 CHP said.

"Recent scientific studies have supported the premise that camels served as the primary source of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infecting humans. A study further suggested that human MERS-CoV infections could be transmitted through close contact with infected camels," the spokesman added.

Locally, the DH's surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and at the airport is firmly 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 CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch 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 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, health-care workers, patients 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. Health-care workers 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:

• Avoid going to farms, barns, or markets with camels;
• Avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel;
• Wash hands regularly before and after touching animals in case of visits to farms or barns;
• Do not consume raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
• Seek medical consultation immediately if feeling unwell;
• Avoid visits to health-care settings with MERS patients;
• Wash hands before touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose; and
• Wash hands before eating or handling food, and after using the toilet.

The public may visit the CHP's MERS page (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html), the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html) or the latest news of the World Health Organization (This link will open in a new windowwww.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 on MERS (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).