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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the recent confirmation of a cluster of patients with Human Metapneumovirus in a male infirmary ward of Pok Oi Hospital, the spokesperson for the New Territories West Cluster made the following update today (March 1):
Three more patients (aged 52 to 66) in the ward had presented with fever and respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and the test results are pending. The patients concerned are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Human Metapneumovirus infection most commonly occurs in late winter and early spring. The virus was first reported in the Netherlands in 2001. Human Metapneumovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus and belongs to the paramyxoviridae family, which includes Parainfluenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The spokesperson stressed that it is neither SARS nor novel coronavirus.
Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting is being imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for necessary follow-up.
Regarding a rumour circulating in smartphones since yesterday about novel coronavirus (i.e. "New SARS") cases in Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH), the cluster spokesperson clarified that there is no "SARS" case admitted to TMH at the moment. Public hospitals will immediately report and arrange laboratory tests for cases of notifiable diseases in accordance with established protocol. The CHP will issue press releases on government websites to inform the media and the public on the test results.
Ends/Friday, March 1, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:57
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