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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the Government's activation of Serious Response Level today (April 26) in view of the swine influenza outbreak in Mexico and some states in the United States of America, the Hospital Authority (HA) has accordingly elevated to Serious Response Level after the urgent meeting of the Central Committee on Infectious Disease & Emergency Response.
The HA spokesman said all frontline staff would be reminded to stay vigilant for swine influenza and all Accident & Emergency Departments and General Outpatient Clinics will have segregation areas to implement triage for fever patients.
Public hospitals will need to report to CHP via the e-Flu system all influenza-like illness patients with relevant travel and contact history (recent travel to affected areas seven days before onset of illness; or contact with patients with swine flu or patient who has febrile respiratory illness and has been to the affected areas during the seven days preceding their illness onset.)
"Patients will be admitted for treatment under isolation and specimens will be sent to the Public Health Laboratory Centre of the Department of Health for testing. The HA laboratory network system will also be activated by phases."
"Under the current Response Level, hospital visiting hours for acute wards are not more than four hours per day and not more than two visitors at a time, while that for convalescent hospitals are not more than six hours per day."
Public are also reminded of the infection control measures under the Serious Response Level, including the hand hygiene; visitors with respiratory symptoms are required to put on surgical masks in hospitals and clinics. All staff are reminded to practise standard and droplets precautions. In case of high-risk procedures, airborne precautions should be practised.
The HA will continue to closely liaise and co-operate with the Centre for Health Protection to keep the general public and professionals posted of the most updated situation and relevant information.
Ends/Sunday, April 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:08
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