***********************************************************

The Department of Health (DH) is keeping a close watch on the outbreak of acute respiratory illness involving about 150 staff and residents of an elderly home in British Columbia, Canada.

A DH spokesman today (August 21) said based on information obtained from the Canadian health authority, the illness detected among the staff and residents of the elderly home has been relatively mild.

"According to information from Health Canada, the outbreak is clinically not compatible with SARS but there is laboratory evidence of SARS-corona virus infection among some of the patients," the spokesman said, adding that: "Further laboratory tests are being conducted."

Noting that the majority of the affected persons have fully recovered, the spokesman said 10 deaths have been reported, all among frail elderly individuals and at least two of these deaths were not related to the outbreak.

As a preventive measure, DH is distributing Health Alert Card to airline passengers arriving from Canada, and has deployed health care staff to watch out for ill persons among these passengers, in addition to the on-going stringent health screening measures at the Airport, including temperature screening and health declaration.

"Information sheet about the situation in Canada and health advice will be distributed to passengers coming from and leaving for Canada," the spokesman added.

DH has alerted the Hospital Authority, private hospitals and all doctors in Hong Kong to the outbreak.

"They have been reminded to maintain vigilance in infection control and disease reporting.

"DH will also send letters to all traditional Chinese medicine practitioners today to advise them to be vigilant," the spokesman said.

A letter is being sent to all elderly residential care homes in Hong Kong and the Social Welfare Department will also alert the residential care institutions for the disabled.

"Even though Hong Kong has been free from SARS since early June, the general public is reminded to remain vigilant and observe good personal hygiene," The spokesman stressed.

For prevention of respiratory tract infection, the public are advised to adopt the following measures:

* Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;

* Maintain good ventilation;

* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;

* Consult a doctor promptly if they develop respiratory symptoms;

* Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to people around them; and

* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.

End/Thursday, August 21, 2003

NNNN