HA supplementary information on measles case

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding the announcement of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today (April 5) on cases of measles, the spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) gave the following supplementary information:

     The Hospital Authority received notification from the CHP today that the newly announced cases of measles include a 20-year-old female nurse working in the Medical Ward of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

     The female nurse, with past good health, has neither travelled nor visited to the Hong Kong International Airport. She developed fever on March 31 and rash on April 3. She attended Tin Shui Wai Hospital on April 4 and was then transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital for isolation. She is currently in stable condition.

     During her communicable period, she has not worked in high risk ward. Her vaccination record shows that she had two doses of measles vaccination taken previously. On April 1 and 2, the two days before onset rash, she was on sick leave.

     PMH has already stepped up infection control measures such as enhancing cleansing and disinfection in the concerned ward, enhancing ventilation, reminding staff members and visitors to take proper infection controls measures like wearing masks and washing hands.

     HA will work closely with the CHP on the source investigation and contact tracing. Preliminary information shows that a 46-year-old female patient, who discharged against medical advice from the ward earlier, developed rash and readmitted for infection of measles later. The patient works in airport.

     According to established guidelines, PMH will monitor the nurse's close contact in the workplace accordingly and blood tests will be conducted to ascertain their measles immunity if needed.