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Preparedness Plan for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome launched
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     The Government today (June 12) announced the launch of the Preparedness Plan for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS Plan). The Plan sets out the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's preparedness and response plan in case of an outbreak of MERS, and is mainly based on the framework of the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic launched in 2012 (Influenza Plan 2012).

     "The Government is committed to the continuous enhancement of preparedness to cater for possible risks of MERS," a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) remarked.

     "The MERS Plan continues to uphold the established principles of reducing the risk of human infection, early detection, prompt treatment and control, and responsive risk communication," the spokesman explained.

     In the MERS Plan, a three-tier response level, namely, Alert, Serious and Emergency, is used, which is in line with the Influenza Plan 2012. The MERS Plan also includes comprehensive response measures, clear command structures, and mechanisms for the activation and standing down of response levels.

     In accordance with the MERS Plan, the Alert Response Level is activated with reference to the current epidemiological situation. The MERS Plan has been uploaded to the CHP's MERS page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html).

     The first human case of MERS was laboratory confirmed overseas in September 2012. Globally, to date, 684 laboratory confirmed MERS cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), including 204 deaths, and the case fatality rate is about 30 per cent.

     Among the cases reported to the WHO, 663 (96.9 per cent) were confirmed in the Middle East, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (570 cases), the United Arab Emirates (66 cases), Jordan (11 cases), Qatar (seven cases), Kuwait (three cases), Iran (two cases), Oman (two cases), Lebanon (one case) and Yemen (one case). For the remaining 21 cases reported outside the Middle East, including the United Kingdom (four cases), France (two cases), Germany (two cases), the Netherlands (two cases), Greece (one case) and Italy (one case) in Europe; Tunisia (three cases), Algeria (two cases) and Egypt (one case) in North Africa; Malaysia (one case) in Asia; and the United States (two cases) in North America, all had links to cases in the Middle East, either through recent travel to the region or exposure to patients who acquired MERS in the region.

     Turning to the analysis into the 295 confirmed cases with details released by the WHO, 70.4 per cent were male aged from 2 to 94 and the median age was 50. People of all age groups were affected, although males of middle and older ages were over-represented. In addition, 219 patients (74.2 per cent) presented with relatively more severe illnesses such as pneumonia and 29 patients (9.8 per cent) had mild illnesses such as influenza-like illness, while the remaining 47 patients (16.0 per cent) were reported to be asymptomatic. Of note, 156 cases (52.9 per cent) were known to have chronic diseases. Patients with underlying co-morbidities had a high risk of severe disease due to MERS.

     Recent scientific studies supported the premise that camels served as the primary source of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infecting humans. The virus appears to pass from an infected person to another in close contact as observed among family members, patients and health-care workers (HCWs). However, so far there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission in the community. Currently, there is no vaccine against MERS available. Treatment is mainly supportive and there is no effective antiviral treatment recommended for MERS at the moment.

     "As the summer vacation is just round the corner, we strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East not to arrange camel rides and activities involving camel contact, which may increase the risk of infection. Furthermore, travellers are reminded to avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, and avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel," the spokesman added.

     Travellers returning from the Middle East who develop respiratory symptoms should wear face masks, seek medical attention and report their travel history to the doctor. HCWs should arrange MERS-CoV testing for them. Patients' lower respiratory tract specimens should be tested when possible and repeat testing should be undertaken when clinical and epidemiological clues strongly suggest MERS.

     Travellers are reminded to take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene:

* Avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels;
* Avoid contact with animals (especially camels), birds, poultry or sick people during travel;
* Wash hands regularly before and after touching animals in case of visits to farms or barns;
* Do not consume raw or undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
* Seek medical consultation immediately if feeling unwell;
* Avoid visits to health-care settings with MERS patients;
* Wash hands before touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose; and
* Wash hands before eating or handling food, and after using the toilet.

     The public may visit the DH's Travel Health Service
(www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html) or the WHO's latest news (www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en/) for more information and health advice.

     Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice against MERS (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).

Ends/Thursday, June 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:00

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