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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 10) called on the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent respiratory tract infection and seasonal influenza infection. The appeal followed the CHP's latest surveillance data showing an increase in the activity of respiratory pathogens in recent weeks.
A CHP spokesman said the Department's Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) has recently detected increases in a number of respiratory viral infections, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus and adenovirus.
The number of RSV detected in PHLC has increased from 195 in the previous four-week period between November 14 and December 11, 2010 to 227 in the recent four-week period between December 12, 2010 and January 8, 2011. The corresponding number for parainfluenza has increased from 169 to 226 and that for adenovirus has increased from 306 to 353.
RSV, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus mainly cause acute respiratory tract infections. They can be transmitted by direct contact with infectious secretions, by droplets spread, or indirectly through contaminated hands or articles freshly soiled by oro-nasal discharge of infected persons.
The latest surveillance data also showed a slight increase in the number of influenza isolations in the PHLC in recent weeks. The PHLC recorded 77 influenza detections last week (January 2-8) compared with 18, 26 and 47 in the weeks ending December 18, 2010, December 25, 2010 and January 1, 2011 respectively.
The majority (60%) of influenza viruses isolated in the recent two weeks were influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (i.e. human swine influenza), followed by influenza B (22%) and influenza A (H3N2) (18%).
"We will closely monitor the influenza activity in the coming weeks to see if we are entering the winter influenza season," the spokesman said. The spokesman strongly advised target groups for influenza vaccination to make use of the last opportunity to receive jabs before arrival of the winter influenza peak as a protective immune response takes about two to four weeks to develop after vaccination.
The public are reminded to take the following measures to prevent respiratory tract infection:
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation; and
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
Members of the public, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult their doctors promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.
Ends/Monday, January 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:32
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