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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 17) urged members of the public and management of institutions to maintain good environmental and personal hygiene to prevent influenza.
The appeal was made after CHP received a report of an influenza-like-illness (ILI) outbreak in a kindergarten cum child care centre in Tai Po, affecting 20 children.
The affected persons comprised 13 boys and seven girls aged between two and five. They developed symptoms of respiratory tract infection, including fever, cough and sore throat since January 5.
Two of them required hospitalisation and have been discharged. Nasopharyngeal aspirate from one of them tested positive for influenza A at a private hospital.
All the affected are in stable condition.
CHP staff have visited the school and provided health advice to the management.
To prevent respiratory tract infection, members of the public are advised to adopt the following measures:
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* Maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands after sneezing or coughing and cleaning nose, and wear a mask when having symptoms of respiratory tract infection;
* Maintain good ventilation; and
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
Ends/Monday, January 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:20
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