Press Release

Two suspected cases test negative for MERS-CoV

17 April 2015

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 17) reported two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel.

Regarding the case reported yesterday (April 16) affecting a woman aged 59, her respiratory specimens tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB).

The patient, with underlying illness, returned from Dubai on April 9. She has developed fever, malaise, sore throat and runny nose since April 11 and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for isolation and management yesterday. She has been in stable condition.

As for the other case, the female patient aged 33, with underlying illness, travelled to Dubai from April 1 to 8 and rode a camel there. She developed fever, cough and chest pain on April 13, and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital late in the night of April 16 and was admitted for isolation in the early morning of the next day. She is currently in stable condition.

The patient did not visit health-care facilities or consume camel products during her trip. Her travel collaterals remain asymptomatic.

Her nasopharyngeal aspirate also tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary testing by the PHLSB.

To date, 1 106 laboratory-confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) globally, including at least 421 deaths. Of note, 1 081 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (973 cases), the United Arab Emirates (70 cases), Jordan (12 cases), Qatar (11 cases), Iran (five cases), Oman (five cases), Kuwait (three cases), Lebanon (one case) and Yemen (one case).

"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. Travellers should 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 said.

"Scientific studies support the premise that camels serve 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, with practising doctors and at boundary control points 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 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:

• 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 pages below for more information and health advice:

• The CHP's MERS page (This link will open in a new windowwww.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html);
• The MERS page of the DH's Travel Health Service (This link will open in a new windowwww.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html);
• The CHP Facebook Page (This link will open in a new windowwww.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
• The CHP YouTube Channel (This link will open in a new windowwww.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
• The WHO's latest news (This link will open in a new windowwww.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en).

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).