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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 27) said leaflets with health messages had been distributed at the airport to passengers arriving from places where human cases of swine influenza were reported.
The spokesman said surveillance and preventive measures being put in place at all control points would be under constant review and amended if necessary to keep abreast of the latest developments in the outbreaks of swine influenza A (H1N1) overseas.
The spokesman said no human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) infections had been reported in Hong Kong since 2001.
Since Hong Kong stepped up surveillance of swine influenza on April 25, three patients fulfilling reporting criteria were reported to the CHP, the spokesman said.
"Two of the patients, a 77-year-old woman and her four-year-old granddaughter, tested negative for influenza A at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital early this morning.
"The woman travelled to the United States and Mexico from April 3 to 19. She developed influenza-like symptoms on April 23 and had fever on April 26. Her granddaughter developed respiratory symptoms on April 24. They sought treatment at Eastern hospital last night (April 26). Both of them are in stable condition."
The third patient was a 27-year-old woman who developed symptoms of respiratory infection and fever on April 23 while she was in San Francisco.
The woman returned to Hong Kong on April 24 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday. She is now in stable condition. Laboratory analysis on a respiratory tract specimen taken from her yielded positive results for human influenza A H3 subtype, which is not swine influenza.
The spokesman said travellers in the affected places should pay attention to announcements made by the local government and follow health guidelines issued.
"People who have returned from the affected places should wear a surgical mask for seven days as a precautionary measure.
"If they present with fever, cough, sore throat or have difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention immediately. They should also inform their doctors about their travel history.
"People should not travel when they are sick and should limit contact with others to prevent the possible spread of infectious diseases," the spokesman said.
The spokesman reminded members of the public to strictly observe the following measures to prevention infection:
* Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Alcohol-based hand rub is also effective when hands are not visibly soiled;
* Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth;
* Wash hands with liquid soap promptly if they are contaminated by respiratory tract secretions, e.g. after sneezing or coughing;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharges properly;
* Always wrap nasal and mouth discharges with tissue paper, and dispose of the tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
* Wear a surgical mask when symptoms of respiratory tract infection or fever develop. Seek medical advice promptly;
* Refrain from going to work or school if you develop symptoms of influenza.
A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, April 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:30
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