The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 1) 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 2-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever since May 30. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for medical treatment on the same day. He is now in 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 travel history. His home contacts remain 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.

     A woman who went missing in Wong Tai Sin was located.

     Yeung Man-wai, aged 22, went missing after she was last seen at a shopping centre on Chuk Yuen Road on February 17. Her family made a report to Police on May 22.

     The woman turned up at Wong Tai Sin Police Station to cancel the missing person report yesterday afternoon (May 31). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 1) announced that a prepackaged frozen spinach sample was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident.
 
     Details of the product are as follows:
 
Product name: Leaf Spinach
Product brand: Waitrose Duchy
Place of origin: Holland
Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight: 500 grams per pack
Best-before date: June 1, 2019
 
     "The CFS collected the spinach sample from a supermarket in To Kwa Wan for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.21 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm," a CFS spokesman said.
 
     "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The CFS is tracing the source of the affected product," the spokesman added.
 
     According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limits is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
     "Based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman said.
 
     The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, visited North District this afternoon (June 1) to keep abreast of its law and order situation and the livelihood of local people. He also visited a counselling centre for psychotropic substance abusers in the district.
      
     Accompanied by the District Officer (North), Mr Chong Wing-wun, Mr Lee first met with members of the North District Council to exchange views on law and order matters and other issues relating to people's livelihood in the district.
      
     Afterwards, Mr Lee visited the Cheer Lutheran Centre, whose main service is to provide counselling for psychotropic substance abusers and youths at risk, helping them quit drugs and develop healthy lifestyles.
 
     Mr Lee was briefed on the "We Cycle II" bicycle guided tour and volunteer training scheme under which rehabilitees are recruited and trained to be guides of bicycle tours to places of interest in North District and to provide voluntary services in the community. Mr Lee said he was pleased to see that the scheme helps rehabilitees to re-establish self-confidence, strengthen their resolve in staying away from drugs, and promote community acceptance of drug treatment and rehabilitation services. He encouraged participants of the scheme to maintain a positive life attitude and continue to serve the community.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 20 open meetings during the week from June 4 to 9 in the LegCo Complex.  Details of the meetings are available in the meeting schedule attached.
 
     The information in the meeting schedule is subject to change.  Please refer to the "LegCo Calendar" on the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk) for the latest details of meetings.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to observe open meetings of LegCo and its Committees.  Interested individuals and groups are advised to make advance booking of seats by calling the LegCo Secretariat at 3919 3399 during office hours.  Members of the public can also listen to or watch all open meetings via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website.