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In response to media enquiries about a Hong Kong patient with Streptococcus suis infection now hospitalised in Thailand, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (July 14) that the Centre had contacted the Thailand authorities to update the patient's condition and carried out public health investigations in Hong Kong.
The 49-year-old male patient is now in a hospital in Thailand. He is in critical condition in an Intensive Care Unit and intubated under ventilator support.
According to the Thailand authorities, the patient is not fit for travel at the moment.
The patient is a worker of a transport company taking slaughtered pigs from the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse to markets.
"We have contacted doctors in Thailand to obtain information about the patient's condition and briefed them on the latest situation of Streptococcus Suis in Hong Kong to facilitate the management of the patient concerned.
"A doctor from the Hospital Authority also communicated with the Thailand hospital over the clinical condition and management of the patient, and learned that he was receiving treatment."
Immigration Department also contacted the patient's family to render advice. The CHP briefed the family about the patient's condition.
"The CHP will continue to keep contact with the Thailand hospital to update the patient's condition," the spokesman said.
Regarding the workplace of the patient, the spokesman said CHP had conducted a site visit to Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse and provided workers with health advice.
The CHP has also contacted the transport company that employed the patient to understand health condition of his co-workers and ascertain no other case of infection; and provide relevant health advice to the company.
Ends/Monday, July 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:31
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