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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 15) closely monitoring a total of 16 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) between March 18 and 31, including six fatal cases. The CHP again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks in the places they visit.
According to the WHO, the patients are 12 men and four women aged between 21 and 78, with 12 having underlying illnesses. Among them, four had history of frequent contact with dromedaries and consumption of their raw milk, two had contact with previously confirmed cases and four visited or stayed in a hospital where a MERS outbreak occurred. The source of infection of the remaining six patients is under investigation. Six patients aged between 29 and 78 passed away. Five patients are in critical condition while a further five are in stable condition.
In addition, three previously confirmed patients died.
To date, 1 714 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 618 deaths. Of note, 1 500 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, with 1 361 in the KSA, 78 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 14 in Qatar, seven in Oman, six in Iran, 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," a spokesman for the CHP 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, April 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:58
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