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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for North District Hospital (NDH) made the following update today (January 24) regarding earlier announcements on confirmation of carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci(VRE) in a medical ward and a surgical ward:
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, contact tracing has been performed. Five more male patients from the medical ward (aged 74 to 90) have been confirmed as VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms. Among the five patients, one is still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation with a stable condition, whereas one patient passed away due to his underlying illness. The remaining three patients have been discharged.
In addition, one more 64-year-old male patient from the surgical ward has been confirmed as a VRE carrier without clinical symptoms. He is still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation with a stable condition.
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Friday, January 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:41
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