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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (November 12) advised a kindergarten with an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection to suspend classes for one week to enhance infection control measures.
The school concerned is St. Margaret Mary¡¦s Catholic Kindergarten in Wan Chai. A total of 34 children aged from four to five developed symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, including fever, sore throat and cough, between November 3 and 11.
Five of them were hospitalised for further management. They are in stable condition and one of them has been discharged. Laboratory tests on nasal pharyngeal aspirates samples of two hospitalised children showed positive results for Adenovirus.
A CHP spokesman said that the kindergarten was advised to suspend classes for a week until November 19 for thorough disinfection in order to prevent further spreading of the disease in the school.
He said, ¡§The school management has stepped up cleaning and infection control measures according to CHP's advice following its visit.
"The CHP will closely monitor the situation. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene."
The CHP spokesman added, "Adenovirus is a group of viruses that commonly cause viral infection in children. The symptoms may vary from respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat, to gastroenteritis illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhoea. There may be associated conjunctivitis.
"Adenovirus infection is usually transmitted by direct contact or faecal-oral transmission. It can occur throughout the year," he said.
The spokesman said while most infections were mild and required no therapy or only symptomatic treatment, strict attention to good hygiene practices was effective for preventing adenovirus-associated disease.
For more information on Adenovirus infection, members of the public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:01
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