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The Department of Health (DH) confirmed four cases of atypical pneumonia involving four children who are now under treatment in hospitals.
Releasing the findings today (March 20), the Consultant in-charge of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of DH, Dr Tse Lai-yin said the four children comprised two 15-year-old twin sisters, a five-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy. They are among the 165 persons confirmed today to have contracted atypical pneumonia.
The twin sisters have been taking sick leave from their schools, namely Tak Oi Secondary School and CCC Heep Woh College in Wong Tai Sin since March 13. They were admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) on March 14 and they are now in serious condition.
"DH staff visited their schools on March 14. Investigations showed that the general environmental condition of the schools is good and that students and teaching staff have not reported unusual patterns of sickness in relation to the outbreak," Dr Tse stressed.
"The two sisters are likely to have contracted the disease from their mother who is a health care worker in the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and has been confirmed to have contracted the disease earlier," Dr Tse added.
In the other two cases, the five-year-old girl and the seven-year-old boy were admitted to PWH on March 16 and 18 respectively. They are in stable condition.
"They developed symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection on March 13 and 17 respectively.
"DH has informed the kindergarten and school, namely Diana Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten and SKH Holy Spirit Primary School in Sha Tin, on the situation. There is no sign that other students there have been infected," Dr Tse said.
"We believed that the sources of the virus were not in the school and the kindergarten concerned. It is most likely that they contracted the disease from their sick family members who have been under treatment in PWH," Dr Tse noted.
Meanwhile, DH is investigating a suspected atypical pneumonia cases in which the younger sister of the boy, aged four, is suspected to have contracted the disease. She developed symptoms on March 14 and was admitted to PWH for observation.
"The Department and the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of students and staff of these schools," Dr Tse said, adding that "there is no sign of spread of atypical pneumonia among the student population at this stage."
EMB has issued school circulars to all schools on March 13 and 18 respectively, reminding them to disseminate to students and parents DH's health advice on the prevention of respiratory tract infections.
DH and EMB will jointly hold two briefing sessions tomorrow for all school principals to remind them of the precautionary measures, followed by health talks for all teachers on March 25, 27 and 28 respectively.
To enable parents of the schools involved in these cases to have a full picture on the situation and obtain proper health advice, DH and EMB have already arranged a seminar for parents whose children are studying in the two Wong Tai Sin schools. Health talks for parents of the primary school and the kindergarten involved will also be lined up soon.
Dr Tse reiterated that child care centres, kindergartens and schools should take the following precautionary measures to prevent respiratory tract infections:
* Cleanse toys and furniture properly;
* Put on a mask if you develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection, or when you are taking care of a sick person who has respiratory symptoms;
* Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing;
* Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing;
* Use liquid soap for hand washing and disposable towel for drying hands;
* Do not share towel;
* To take sick leave and have good rest when feeling unwell;
* Ensure adequate ventilation of indoor premises;
* Maintain healthy lifestyle.
End/Thursday, March 20, 2003
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