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The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring another additional case due to infection with the novel coronavirus confirmed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) of the United Kingdom (UK). The latest case is the family member and is in close personal contact with the 10th case announced by HPA earlier.
The patient, who is a UK resident, does not have any recent travel history and is currently receiving intensive care treatment in a hospital in Birmingham. This latest case brings the total number of confirmed cases globally to 11, of which three have been diagnosed in the UK.
A DH spokesman said, "The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH will seek more information on these two recent cases from the World Health Organization (WHO) and HPA. The CHP will stay vigilant and continue to work closely with the WHO and other overseas health authorities to monitor the latest development of this novel infectious disease."
"Locally, the CHP will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of Novel Coronavirus associated with Severe Respiratory Disease."
"No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong," the spokesman stressed.
The spokesman advised travellers returning from novel coronavirus affected countries with respiratory symptoms should wear a facial mask and seek medical attention and reveal the travel history to the doctor.
Ends/Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:46
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