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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said that in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (April 29), the CHP did not receive any reports of patients fulfilling human swine influenza A (H1N1) reporting criteria.
As for the seven patients fulfilling the reporting criteria reported earlier to the CHP, five of them have tested negative for swine flu, the spokesman said.
Specimens taken from the remaining two patients yielded positive results for human influenza A H3 subtype and human influenza A H1 subtype respectively, he added.
The spokesman strongly advised residents to avoid all non-essential travel to human swine flu affected areas, particularly Mexico.
"Travellers in the affected places should pay attention to announcements made by the local government and follow the 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."
He reminded 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/Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:31
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