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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said, in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (April 30), two patients fulfilling human swine influenza A (H1N1) reporting criteria were reported to CHP.
The first patient was a 21-year-old woman. She stayed in Barcelona and Paris from April 23 to April 28 and arrived in Hong Kong the next day. She developed fever, nausea and vomiting on April 28 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) on April 29. She was stable and was discharged from hospital today.
The second patient was also a 21-year-old woman who had visited Vancouver and Mexico between April 21 and April 27. She returned to Hong Kong on April 28. She developed cough and headache since April 15. She was admitted to PMH in stable condition.
Laboratory results of the specimens taken from the two patients are tested negative to human swine influenza.
The spokesman added that all seven patients fulfilling the reporting criteria reported earlier to CHP were tested negative to swine influenza.
CHP has set up a hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate enquiries from people who developed flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat or have difficulty in breathing and had travelled to human swine-flu affected areas during the 7-day period before onset of symptoms.
The spokesman said people who meet the above criteria were urged to call the 24-hour hotline to facilitate follow up arrangements by the health authority.
He strongly advised residents to avoid all non-essential travel to human swine flu affected areas, particularly Mexico.
ˇ§Travellers in the affected places should pay attention to announcements made by the local government and follow health guidelines issued.
"People who have returned from the affected places should wear a surgical mask for seven days as a precautionary measure.
"If they present with fever, cough, sore throat or have difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention immediately. They should also inform their doctors about their travel history.
He reminded members of the public to strictly observe the following measures to prevention infection:
* Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Alcohol-based hand rub is also effective when hands are not visibly soiled;
* Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth;
* Wash hands with liquid soap promptly if they are contaminated by respiratory tract secretions, e.g. after sneezing or coughing;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharges properly;
* Always wrap nasal and mouth discharges with tissue paper, and dispose of the tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
* Wear a surgical mask when symptoms of respiratory tract infection or fever develop. Seek medical advice promptly;
* Refrain from going to work or school if you develop symptoms of influenza.
A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:35
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