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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Upon notification by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of a suspected human case of avian influenza H5N1 in Guangdong Province, the Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 25) announces that it will implement a four-week Enhanced Surveillance Programme in public hospitals from tomorrow (February 26) until March 24, with the following measures:
- Public hospitals should report to the e-Flu system of HA all patients fulfilling the case definition of having pneumonia (all types) of unidentified etiology and travel history to affected areas/countries with confirmed human cases of avian influenza infection in the past six months, within seven days before symptoms onset.
- The laboratory of Queen Mary Hospital and the Public Health Laboratory Centre of the Department of Health will participate in the Enhanced Surveillance Programme to provide rapid testing for avian influenza.
- This Enhanced Surveillance Programme will be reviewed in four weeks' time.
- Meanwhile, all infection control measures of public hospitals under the current Alert Response Level are still in effect.
"HA head office has also reminded the frontline staff of hospitals and clinics to step up all infection control measures and maintain vigilance. HA will closely observe the report from CHP which will continue to liaise with the Ministry of Health on the latest developments. We will continue the close liaison with CHP and will update frontline staff and the public accordingly," a spokesman for HA said.
Ends/Monday, February 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:14
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