Credit WHO Coronavirus webpage
UPDATE 3/10/12: Test results have now come back negative for the novel coronavirus (NCoV) on this traveler, and his wife. The latest CHP press release indicates he has tested positive for H3 influenza (see Case of fever with travel history to KSA tested negative for novel coronavirus).
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Public health officials around the world are on the lookout for unusual cases of fever or pneumonia with ties to the Middle East as part of a global NCoV (novel coronavirus) surveillance effort.
The World Health Organization has urged such vigilance, and just yesterday we saw an updated CDC HAN Health Advisory On NCoV issued, as well.
When casting a relatively broad surveillance net such as this one, it is realistic to expect that a good many non-NCoV cases will be flagged and tested during the process.
Hong Kong’s CHP has tested a small number of suspect cases since last September, and so far, all of them have proved negative for the novel coronavirus.
Today, we have a press release from Hong Kong indicating they have flagged another patient, recently returned from KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) – and his spouse - for testing.
This is the sort of story we are probably going to have to get used to seeing as surveillance efforts regarding this novel virus ramp up.
As we’ve seen with other emerging diseases (including H5N1), testing is often done out of an abundance of caution, and results often come back negative.
Case of fever with travel history to KSA under investigation
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received a report from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) tonight (March 9) of a suspected case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus.
The 31-year-old man, with good past health, presented with cough on March 3 and fever and headache since March 9. He was admitted to QEH for isolation and treatment tonight. His current condition is stable.
Investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from March 4 to 7. His wife with no recent travel history has cough and sore throat since March 8. She is also being isolated in QEH as a precautionary measure.
Their chest X-ray were clear. Laboratory test results are expected to be available tomorrow.
"The CHP will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus," a DH spokesman remarked.
"No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong," the spokesman stressed.
The spokesman advised travellers returning from novel coronavirus-affected countries with respiratory symptoms to wear face masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors.
The spokesman reminded members of the public to pay attention to personal hygiene, especially wash hands:
* Before touching the eyes, nose and mouth;
* Before eating or handling food;
* After using the toilets; and
* After sneezing or coughing and cleaning the nose.For more information on personal hygiene, members of the public may visit the CHP's website:
www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/19899.html .Ends/Saturday, March 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 23:20
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Hong Kong is particularly proactive in keeping the public informed of public health issues, and so I fully expect we’ll get an update in the next 24 to 48 hours.
