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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) reminded all public hospitals to remain on high vigilance with a series of enhanced infection control measures under the current Emergency Response Level, following the confirmation by the Centre for Health Protection today (May 13) of the second imported case of human swine influenza in Hong Kong.
According to the HA spokesman, since the activation of the Emergency Response Level on May 1 when the first human swine influenza case was confirmed in Hong Kong, the HA Chief Executive Mr Shane Solomon had already activated the Central Command Committee at Head Office to closely monitor and review the latest development for timely implementation of the necessary measures.
The newly confirmed patient, a 24-year-old man, is now being treated under isolation in the HA Infectious Disease Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital. He is in stable condition.
"The HA is working closely with the CHP on the necessary follow up actions. All acute hospitals have been informed of the confirmed case and are ready to receive the contacts of the patients for further clinical assessment and isolation treatment if symptomatic. Depending on service need, the network of Designated Clinics will be activated to assist in the triage and treatment of patients with mild symptoms,"the spokesman said.
"Patients' specimen will be collected and tested as soon as possible. To ensure adequate laboratory support for conducting tests for symptomatic patients, the laboratory network at five hospitals - Princess Margaret Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital - was activated. They are working closely with the Public Health Laboratory Centre under the Department of Health to meet service demand."
The spokesman said hospital staff are also reminded to gear up with appropriate precautionary measures for infection control under the current response level. Segregation areas for high risk patients at Accident & Emergency Departments and general out-patient clinics have been set up. All patients would be triaged promptly and assessed for the risk of infection control.
"Visitors to patient areas including A&E Departments, clinics and wards are now required to put on surgical masks and perform hand hygiene. The public is reminded that there is no visiting arrangement in isolation wards. For general acute hospitals, visiting hours are limited to not more than two hours a day and two persons at a time; for infirmary/convalescent hospitals, visiting hours are limited to not more than four hours a day and two persons at a time," the spokesman added.
Ends/Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:09
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