The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 1) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection.

     The 8-year-old boy, with good past health, has presented with fever, cough, runny nose and confusion since December 30. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital on the next day and was admitted for further management on the same day. He is now in a stable condition.

     His nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for the current season and had travelled to Foshan, Guangdong during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     "The latest surveillance data showed that the overall influenza activity in Hong Kong continued to increase. It is anticipated that the local influenza activity will further increase and the winter influenza season will arrive soon. Members of the public should maintain good personal protection against influenza," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Given that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive SIV for personal protection. Eligible persons are urged to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies. Vaccination among family members is key to protecting their personal and family's health."

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub as an effective alternative;
• Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 1) for people in need of the service.
 
     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 2) when the cold weather warning is still in force.
 
     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donation items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
 
     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangement in the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2835 1473 for more information.
 
     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
——————–
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan 

Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories:
—————-
  
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung

North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun 

Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this morning (January 1) visited Tuen Mun Hospital to learn about various measures that the Hospital Authority (HA) had put in place during the winter surge of influenza and extend New Year greetings to the healthcare workers and patients.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Chairman of the HA, Professor John Leong and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Leung Pak-yin, Mrs Lam visited the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, the Medicine and Geriatrics ward and the Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine ward to listen to briefings by the healthcare workers on the operation of the A&E Department and the wards, including the waiting time of patients in the A&E Department and that for in-patient admission via the A&E Department, manpower deployment and measures implemented in response to the surge in demand for services. She also chatted with the patients to know their situation and listened to their views.

     "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to frontline healthcare workers for their dedication and professionalism in providing quality service to patients, safeguarding people's health. In response to the upsurge in service demand in the last winter, I announced in January last year to allocate an additional fund of $500 million for the Hospital Authority to implement various relief measures. I know that some of the effective measures have continued to be implemented before the arrival of the winter influenza season this year. The Food and Health Bureau will closely monitor the situation to ensure robust public healthcare services are in place.

     "Quality and reliable healthcare services are the rightful aspiration of members of the public. In the Policy Address announced in October last year, I said the Government will continue to improve the healthcare system and services, plan ahead for medical hardware facilities and manpower requirements of healthcare professionals, increase the number of healthcare training places and enhance district-based primary healthcare services to alleviate the pressure on public hospitals in the long-run.

     "Prevention is better than cure. Receipt of seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is an effective preventive measure. The Government has adopted a wide range of measures to enhance SIV uptake rate, including the implementation of a pilot programme to roll out free outreach seasonal influenza vaccination services for primary students at schools, increase in the subsidy under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and expansion of eligible groups to cover people aged between 50 and 64. With these initiatives, I am pleased to note as at December 23 last year, more than 960 000 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered, representing an increase of 56 per cent compared with the same period last year in which over 610 000 doses were administered. I also received vaccination earlier. I appeal to members of the public to receive the vaccination as early as possible to protect themselves and the others, reducing the risk of hospitalisation."

          

     Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (January 1) intercepted a male remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing them inside his body.

     The 61-year-old person in custody was remanded in the institution for the offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs on December 29. After undergoing X-ray body scanning, he was suspected to have swallowed suspected dangerous drugs before admission and was therefore separated and put under close monitoring.

     By 11.25am today, he had discharged five packs of suspected dangerous drugs wrapped in plastic sheet. The case has been reported to the Police for follow-up.

     A spokesperson for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department takes every measure to stop the introduction of dangerous drugs or unauthorised articles into correctional institutions in order to maintain good order and discipline and a drug-free environment for all persons in its custody."

Attention TV/radio announcers:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
 
     The car park at Hong Kong Wetland Park is full. Motorists going to the Park can use the nearby public car parks at Tin Heng Estate, Tin Yat Estate, Grandeur Terrace or Tin Yip Road.
 
     Members of the public are encouraged to take public transport to the Park.