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The Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring an 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 of the 10th and the 11th cases announced by HPA earlier this week.
The patient, who is a UK resident, does not have any recent travel history, is recovering from a mild respiratory illness and is currently well. This latest case brings the total number of confirmed cases globally to 12, of which four have been diagnosed in the UK.
A DH spokesman said, "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), although this new case offers further indications of person-to-person transmission, no sustained person-to-person transmission has been identified.
"The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH will seek more information on these three recent cases from the 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/Saturday, February 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:26
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