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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 8) drew the attention of the public and management of schools and institutions to the prevention of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) by maintaining personal, environmental and food hygiene as Hong Kong is entering the traditional peak season of the disease.
According to the latest surveillance data, the CHP recorded five institutional AGE outbreaks affecting a total of 23 persons in the week ending January 4, 2014, as compared with one outbreak in each of the three preceding weeks from December 8 to 28, 2013, affecting a total of 25 persons.
The weekly consultation rate of AGE syndrome groups based at Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals under the communicable disease surveillance system has increased from 121.8 per 1 000 coded cases in the week ending December 28, 2013, to 127.7 in the week ending January 4, 2014.
In addition, under the CHP's sentinel surveillance, from the week ending November 30, 2013 to that ending January 4, 2014, the weekly consultation rate of acute diarrhoeal diseases reported by General Out-patient Clinics increased from 2.2 to 3.8 per 1 000 consultations.
"AGE, commonly caused by norovirus and rotavirus, is a frequent cause of outbreaks in schools and institutions. AGE outbreaks may occur throughout the year but are known to occur more frequently in winter. AGE is highly infectious and may result in outbreaks which are difficult to control," a spokesman for the CHP said.
Symptoms of AGE include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and malaise. The infection can spread through consumption of contaminated food or direct contact with the vomitus or excreta of infected persons.
"We will issue letters to healthcare professionals, schools and institutions to alert them to the seasonal peak of AGE, corresponding infection control measures and health advice. Schools and institutions should also report AGE outbreaks to the CHP for prompt epidemiological investigation and control," the spokesman said.
To prevent the spread of AGE, the public should take heed of the following advice:
* Wash hands thoroughly before handling food or eating, and after using the toilet or handling vomitus or faecal matter;
* Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus and faeces and wash hands afterwards;
* Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water);
* Maintain good indoor ventilation; and
* Make sure that food, particularly seafood and shellfish, is thoroughly cooked.
Members of the public may visit the CHP's pages on norovirus infection (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/33.html) and rotavirus infection (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/38.html) for more information and preventive advice.
Ends/Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:54
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