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The Department of Health (DH) has put under medical surveillance in Hong Kong a 55-year-old traveller who was on board a flight from Singapore to Taiwan on which another passenger was later confirmed to be a SARS patient.
Speaking at a press briefing today (December 19), Dr Thomas Tsang of DH said, with the assistance of the Taiwan health authority, DH had obtained the passenger lists for flights CI 661 and CI 662, which the Taiwan SARS patient boarded on December 7 and 10 respectively.
Follow-up investigations by DH revealed that the 55-year-old man, who is not a Hong Kong permanent resident, arrived in Hong Kong on December 14.
DH medical staff contacted the man early this morning and gave him a medical examination. The man's condition is good and he has no SARS symptoms.
"Even though the man is not classified as a close contact, as an extra precaution, DH asked him to stay in his own residence for two more days until December 20 for close medical surveillance," Dr Tsang said.
DH staff will contact him in person and by phone for medical surveillance to ensure that he has no SARS symptoms.
"The incident clearly indicates that DH and its Taiwan counterpart as well as international stakeholders are working in close liaison on the detection and prevention of SARS. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of Hong Kong's disease surveillance system," Dr Tsang added.
He stressed that DH would closely monitor the development and remain on high alert.
"Even though Hong Kong has been free from SARS since early June, members of the public, in particular people travelling to Taiwan, are reminded to remain vigilant and observe good personal hygiene," Dr Tsang said.
For prevention of respiratory tract infection, the public is advised to adopt the following measures:
* Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose;
* Maintain good ventilation;
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;
* Consult a doctor promptly if respiratory symptoms develop;
* Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others; and
* Build up good immunity by maintaining a proper diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.
Further information on SARS can be obtained from the SARS website: www.info.gov.hk/info/sars/eindex.htm.
Ends/Friday, December 19, 2003
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