Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 13) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons.

     The case involves a 29-year-old man with good past health, who had presented with fever, vomiting, headache and neck pain since March 9. He was admitted to Caritas Medical Centre on March 11 and was subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for further management on the same day. His clinical diagnosis was septic shock. The patient is now in a stable condition.

     His blood specimen tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. The CHP’s investigation is continuing.

     “Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The clinical picture may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis).

     Meningococcaemia is characterised by sudden onset of fever, intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infections can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection.

     Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics.

     To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
 

• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled;
• Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharges in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately;
• Avoid crowded places;
• Avoid close contact with patients who have fever or severe headache;
• Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and
• Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.

     
     The public may visit the CHP’s website for more information on meningococcal infection.  read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 13) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.

     The case involves a 1-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever since March 8. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
on March 8 and was admitted for further management on the following day. The patient has all along been in a stable condition.

     His cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. His mother had developed sore throat since March 7. She sought medical attention and had recovered. Other home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant and observe the following preventive measures:
 

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

     Children suffering from EV infection should stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.

     The public may visit the CHP’s page on hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71 infection for more information. read more

     Express Service Company Limited and its two directors were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and annual leave pay to an employee and defaulting on the sum awarded by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The company and its directors earlier pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts and were sentenced today (March 13). The company was fined a total of $26,500, while its directors were each sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. The company and its director were also ordered to pay an outstanding sum of about $160,000.

     The company failed to pay one employee his wages and annual leave pay as required by the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company also failed to pay the employee the awarded sum of about $160,000 within 14 days after the date set out by the terms of the LT award. The two directors were convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.  

     “The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages and termination payments to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO and the awarded sums according to the LT or Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board,” a spokesman for the LD said.

     “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesman added. read more

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (March 13) visited North District. She visited North District Hospital (NDH) and Luen Wo Hui Market to get a better understanding of healthcare and municipal services i… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (March 13) hosted the Estate Management Services Contractors Awards 2018 presentation ceremony at Domain. A total of 41 awards were presented to services contractors, estate managers and frontline staff in recognition of their outstanding performance in managing HA properties in the past year.

     Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Miss Rosaline Wong, said, “The Housing Authority attaches great importance to the quality and performance of estate management services contractors with a view to providing a pleasant, tidy and safe living environment for our tenants.
 
     “We strive to raise the level of service of our management services contractors and ensure the provision of quality services through effective contract management and close monitoring of the performance of the services contractors.”
 
     The Estate Management Services Contractors Awards is held annually to give due recognition to those services contractors with excellent performance.
 
     Miss Wong added that the annual award presentation serves to encourage services contractors to constantly improve the services in different sectors, thereby meeting the rising needs of the residents.

     The awards of 2018 went to 12 property, cleansing and security services contractors and carpark operators, seven estate managers and 14 front-line staff. The estates managed by the winners of Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) include Shek Lei (II) Estate, Cheung Ching Estate, Choi Yuen Estate, Po Heung Estate, Fu Tung Estate and Sheung Lok Estate (Please see the attached table for details). The award winners were determined based on the combined scores given by the assessment panel, the Housing Department’s supervisory teams, the Management Assessment Scores, feedback from the Estate Management Advisory Committees and the results of random surveys conducted among the residents.

     The HA has a stringent tendering system and an effective contract management mechanism to ensure quality and reliable services. To enhance the quality of service provided by services contractors, the HA recently reviewed the Management Assessment Scores by introducing new assessment items. The evaluation of the overall performance of the services contractors has thus become more specific, objective and comprehensive.

     The HA maintains close ties with services contractors. Seminars are held regularly to foster good communications and view exchanges, as well as to provide opportunities for high-performing services contractors to share their valuable experience.

     Currently, the management of more than half of the HA’s public rental housing estates is outsourced to property services agents, and many major maintenance tasks in HA estates are being carried out by contractors. By leveraging the private sector’s resources and experience in managing private properties, the HA seeks to raise the level of its estate management services and to enhance the living environment for its tenants.

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