******************************************************
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (July 5) that the CHP is closely monitoring the outbreak of an unknown disease with severe respiratory and neurological symptoms in Cambodia.
The spokesman said that, according to information from the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 62 children suffering from severe respiratory disease with neurological symptoms have been reported to the Ministry of Health of Cambodia (MoH Cambodia) and, as of July 4, 61 of them have died. The cases were reported since April this year.
The cases presented with high fever followed by respiratory and/or neurologic signs with rapid deterioration of respiratory functions. The majority came from the southern part of Cambodia and so far no apparent clustering of cases has been detected. Joint investigation into the cause of the cases is being conducted by the WHO and MoH Cambodia.
"The CHP has written to the Western Pacific Regional Office of the WHO and MoH Cambodia for further information on the outbreak. We will closely monitor the progress of further epidemiological investigations and surveillance which are ongoing in Cambodia and the advice from the WHO," the spokesman said.
The spokesman also reminded members of the public to maintain vigilance in relation to health while travelling abroad. The CHP will send letters to doctors to alert them to be vigilant about patients returning from Cambodia with respiratory symptoms.
"Travellers should observe strict personal and food hygiene during travel, as well as measures against insect or mosquito bites. They are advised to consult doctors immediately if they develop respiratory symptoms," the spokesman added.
More travel health tips are available at the DH's website, www.travelhealth.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, July 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:40
NNNN
