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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In view of recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, the Central Committee on Infectious Disease and Emergency Responses of the Hospital Authority (HA) today (July 30) convened an ad hoc meeting, which was joined by representatives from the Centre for Health Protection, to discuss the risk assessment and preparedness of public hospitals. It was agreed that the following key measures will be implemented for early detection, isolation and diagnosis of possible cases to mitigate the risk of the disease being spread in Hong Kong:
* HA will enhance the monitoring and reporting of symptomatic patient cases, who have a travel history to the affected areas, namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, in the past three weeks.
* These patients will be transferred to the HA Infectious Disease Centre for isolation and arrangement of clinical tests at the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of Department of Health, which will be available in a few hours.
* Frontline staff will be reminded of the appropriate infection control measures and Personal Protection Equipment in designated intranet websites, staff forums and news bulletins.
The HA will continue to closely collaborate with CHP to monitor the development and keep the general public and professionals posted of the most updated situation and relevant information. The enhanced measures will be reviewed at appropriate time.
Ends/Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:59
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