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The 34-year-old woman who was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) last night has tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) confirmed today (September 16).
"Results of preliminary tests carried out by PMH were negative. Likewise, tests conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Centre of DH today also yielded negative results for SARS-corona virus.
"The case is not a 'suspected SARS' case. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm," the spokesman said.
The patient, who has no recent travel history, reported shortness of breath on September 8 and was admitted to a private hospital in Tsuen Wan on September 10. She stayed in an isolation ward the following day and was transferred to PMH on September 15. She is now under medical observation in an isolation ward and her condition is stable.
The spokesman noted that the patient's family, hospital and work place contacts had been traced and none was showing sign of SARS. However, as a precautionary measure, DH has put them under close medical surveillance.
He stressed that DH will closely monitor developments and remain on high alert.
"The incident clearly indicates that DH, the Hospital Authority and the private medical sector are working in close liaison in the prevention against SARS. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of Hong Kong's disease surveillance system," he added.
According to the spokesman, the following measures have been put in place to prevent the re-surgence of SARS in Hong Kong:
At entry points into Hong Kong
* Health screening measures, including health declaration and temperature screening at all the border control points.
Regional co-operation to monitor communicable diseases
* Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau to notify one another on SARS and to exchange information on other infectious diseases.
* Hong Kong will continue to maintain close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and overseas health authorities so as to enhance the existing disease surveillance system.
Health Guidelines to stakeholders
* Guidelines for SARS prevention are kept under regular review to ensure practical application. DH will update health advice for different sectors of the community, including the tourism and hotel industries to facilitate the formulation of tailor-made health instruction and SARS-related training programmes within their domain.
Flu vaccination
* In accordance with WHO recommendation, DH will extend the annual influenza vaccination programme for the elderly in residential care homes to residents of institutions for the mentally and physically disabled, as well as DH's health care workers to help reduce the burden on the health care system arising from influenza, the clinical picture of which may be mistaken for SARS.
Public awareness of SARS
* Publicity programme on SARS prevention will be stepped up to heighten public vigilance against the resurgence of the disease.
The spokesman added that the most effective measure against SARS is to strictly observe good personal and environmental hygiene.
To prevent respiratory tract infections, the public is 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/Tuesday, September 16, 2003
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