Cluster of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus cases in Kwong Wah Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital made the following announcement today (October 31):

     One male patient and three female patients (aged 33 months to night years) and four staff members in a paediatrics and adolescent medicine ward have been presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms since October 15. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Enterovirus/Rhinovirus. Three of the patients have been transferred to Hong Kong Children's Hospital for further isolation treatment while one other patient is being treated in isolation in Kwong Wah Hospital. All of the patients are in stable condition. One of the staff members is currently on leave, and the other three staff members have recovered and have resumed duty.

     Enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted according to prevailing guidelines. Droplet and contact precautions, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the environment and equipment have also been strengthened.

     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.