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Update on local response to latest MERS situation
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 31) reported the latest local response to the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) exported from Korea to Mainland China.

     As of 4pm today, the CHP's contact tracing located 29 close contacts and 23 other contacts of the patient.

(A) Close contacts

     All 18 asymptomatic close contacts in Hong Kong are under quarantine at the quarantine centre in Lady MacLehose Holiday Village.

(B) Other contacts

     The 23 other contacts are under medical surveillance. Apart from the 17 reported yesterday (May 30), the other six include:

* Five other asymptomatic passengers onboard the same flight as the patient; and
* The asymptomatic driver of the bus the patient took from Sha Tau Kok to Huizhou, Guangdong.

     Epidemiological investigations and contact tracing are ongoing.

     "We again strongly appeal to passengers onboard OZ 723 of Asiana Airlines who travelled from Korea and arrived in Hong Kong at around 1pm on May 26, and those onboard the three vehicles operated by Eternal East Cross-Border Coach Mgt. Ltd. on the same day to call our hotline on 2125 1111 for further assessment or follow-up. It operates till 6pm today and from 9am to 6pm tomorrow (June 1)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "We will maintain close communication with the World Health Organization and the health authorities of Korea and the Mainland. Members of the public and the healthcare sector should heighten vigilance and stay alert to the latest situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Sunday, May 31, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30

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