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| Photo Credit - HK Gov |
#14,619
With the caveat that this is cold and flu season, and that lots of people traveling from Wuhan to Hong Kong are likely to have minor respiratory infections that are completely unrelated to their unidentified pneumonia outbreak, this morning Hong Kong's Hospital authority announced 3 more people have been admitted to local hospitals for isolation and testing.
Public hospital daily update on Wuhan-related cases
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
As at noon today (January 4), in the past 24 hours, public hospitals have admitted three patients (one male and two female), who have been to Wuhan in the past 14 days and presented with fever and respiratory infection or pneumonia symptoms, aged 4-50. The patients are being treated under isolation in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital now. The Hospital Authority (HA) has reported the cases and sent the specimen to the Department of Health (DH) for testing. The concerned patients are in stable condition. The HA will keep monitoring the patients' condition and provide appropriate treatment.
Including the above-mentioned cases, public hospitals have reported eight concerned patient cases to DH since December 31, 2019. Five of them have been discharged.
Ends/Saturday, January 4, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:35
Yesterday we saw the criteria for testing expanded to include anyone with respiratory symptoms or fever who had been in Wuhan in the past 14 days, and just a few hours ago we looked at the activation of Hong Kong's New Infectious Disease Preparedness & Contingency Plan (`Serious' Level).
This morning, we also have this announcement from Hong Kong's Hospital Authority:
Serious Response Level activated in public hospitals
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (January 4) announced the activation of the Serious Response Level in public hospitals with immediate effect to tie in with the Government launching the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance, and raising the response level from "Alert" to "Serious".
Following an ad hoc meeting of the HA Central Committee on Infectious Disease and Emergency Responses on the latest situation of cluster of cases of viral pneumonia with unknown cause in Wuhan this morning, a series of measures to enhance monitoring and infection control in public hospitals and clinics will be implemented with immediate effect.
The HA spokesperson said that frontline healthcare staff of public hospitals have been reminded to pay special attention to patient's clinical information, including the presentation of fever and acute respiratory illness, or pneumonia, and travel history to Wuhan within 14 days before onset of symptoms.
The spokesperson also stressed that any suspected case will be isolated in negative pressure isolation room for treatment with urgent laboratory investigation will be arranged immediately.
"Under the Serious Response Level, more stringent infection control measures are enforced in public hospitals including visiting arrangement. There is no visiting at isolation wards unless on compassionate ground. For general acute wards, visiting hours would be not more than two hours per day and not more than two visitors per visit. For convalescent and infirmary wards, visiting hours would be not more than four hours per day and not more than two visitors per visit."
The spokesperson also reminded all visitors to public hospitals and clinics are now required to put on surgical masks and perform hand hygiene before and after visiting patient.
Volunteer service and clinical attachment arrangement in public hospitals will be decided in accordance to the latest situation. On personal protection equipment, such as surgical mask and N95 mask, the current stockpile is adequate for three months' consumption. HA will also maintain a close liaison with the suppliers to ensure a sustainable supply.
The isolation beds in the seven hospital clusters will be deployed when needed.
The HA would continue to closely collaborate with the Centre for Health Protection in monitoring the latest situation and keep the general public as well as healthcare workers updated on developments on a regular basis.
Ends/Saturday, January 4, 2020
Issued at HKT 15:00
While we continue to see an avalanche of media reports, and numerous public healthy agency press releases, it still isn't clear what is happening in Wuhan, and how much of a threat this outbreak really poses.
Unless and until a pathogen can be identified, and its source and method of transmission established, the only reasonable course of action is to plan for a larger event - which is exactly what Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan public health officials are doing.Admittedly this outbreak `feels' like it could have legs. But we've been here before - with H7N9 in China, MERS in Saudi Arabia, and H5N1 in Egypt - and those outbreaks ended up contained. Hopefully we'll get lucky again in that regard.
But for now, no one is taking these reports lightly.
