***********************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 30) closely monitoring 12 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.
According to the WHO, the patients involved five men and seven women aged between 28 and 76, of whom a 45-year-old male patient has passed away. Four of them lived in a housing compound that has been experiencing a MERS outbreak, one was admitted to the same ward as a confirmed case, one provided care to a confirmed case, and one patient has a history of contact with sheep and camels. Regarding the remaining five cases, the history of exposure to the known risk factors in the 14 days prior to their onset of symptoms is under investigation.
To date, 1 611 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 575 deaths. Of note, 1 398 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries including 1 263 in the KSA, 76 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 13 in Qatar, six each in Iran and Oman, four in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.
"Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus," the spokesman said.
"We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," the spokesman added.
Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the pages below for more information and health advice:
* The CHP's MERS page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html);
* MERS statistics in affected areas (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/distribution_of_mers_cases_en.pdf);
* The MERS page of the DH's Travel Health Service (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html);
* The CHP Facebook Page (www.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
* The CHP YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
* The WHO's latest news (www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en).
Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).
Ends/Friday, October 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:44
NNNN
