Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 21) investigating a case of influenza A (H9) infection affecting a 22-month-old girl.
 
     The patient has developed fever and cough with sputum since February 15 and was brought to Union Hospital for medical advice on February 16. No hospitalisation was required at that time. Her clinical specimen was tested positive for the influenza A (H9) virus today upon testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. Subtyping result is pending. Her clinical diagnosis was avian influenza. She is in stable condition and arrangements have been made for her to be admitted to isolation ward of Princess Margaret Hospital for further treatment.
 
     Preliminary investigation of the CHP revealed that the patient had visited Zhongshan during the incubation period. The patient had no direct poultry contact recently, nor consumption of undercooked poultry, or contact with patients. One of her home contacts developed sore throat on February 17 who had taken medication and the symptom had subsided. Her other home contacts are asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.
  
    The CHP will inform the health authority of Guangdong and the World Health Organization of the case.

    Novel influenza A infection, including influenza A (H9), is a notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong. Influenza A (H9N2) infection is a mild form of avian influenza. Nine cases of influenza A (H9N2) had been reported since 1999. The recent case was an imported case reported in 2020. No deaths have been recorded so far.
  
     A spokesman for the CHP explained that a stringent surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to public hospitals for follow-up investigation.
 
     “Travellers, especially those returning from avian influenza-affected areas and provinces with fever or respiratory symptoms, should immediately wear masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors. Healthcare professionals should pay special attention to patients who might have had contact with poultry, birds or their droppings in affected areas and provinces,” the spokesman advised.
 
     Members of the public should remain vigilant and take heed of the preventive advice against avian influenza below:
 
* Do not visit live poultry markets. Avoid contact with poultry, birds and their droppings. If contact has been made, thoroughly wash hands with soap;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently with soap, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, handling food or eating; after going to the toilet or touching public installations or equipment (including escalator handrails, elevator control panels and door knobs); or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
* Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue and put it into a covered dustbin;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with fever patients;
* Wear masks when respiratory symptoms develop or when taking care of fever patients;
* Travellers if feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if having a fever or cough, should wear a surgical mask and inform the hotel staff or tour leader and seek medical advice at once; and
* Travellers returning from affected areas with avian influenza outbreaks should consult doctors promptly if they have flu-like symptoms, and inform the doctor of the travel history and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.
 
     The public may visit the CHP’s avian influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html) and website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/global_statistics_avian_influenza_e.pdf) for more information on avian influenza-affected areas and provinces. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 21) investigating a case of influenza A (H9) infection affecting a 22-month-old girl.
 
     The patient has developed fever and cough with sputum since February 15 and was brought to Union Hospital for medical advice on February 16. No hospitalisation was required at that time. Her clinical specimen was tested positive for the influenza A (H9) virus today upon testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. Subtyping result is pending. Her clinical diagnosis was avian influenza. She is in stable condition and arrangements have been made for her to be admitted to isolation ward of Princess Margaret Hospital for further treatment.
 
     Preliminary investigation of the CHP revealed that the patient had visited Zhongshan during the incubation period. The patient had no direct poultry contact recently, nor consumption of undercooked poultry, or contact with patients. One of her home contacts developed sore throat on February 17 who had taken medication and the symptom had subsided. Her other home contacts are asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.
  
    The CHP will inform the health authority of Guangdong and the World Health Organization of the case.

    Novel influenza A infection, including influenza A (H9), is a notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong. Influenza A (H9N2) infection is a mild form of avian influenza. Nine cases of influenza A (H9N2) had been reported since 1999. The recent case was an imported case reported in 2020. No deaths have been recorded so far.
  
     A spokesman for the CHP explained that a stringent surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to public hospitals for follow-up investigation.
 
     “Travellers, especially those returning from avian influenza-affected areas and provinces with fever or respiratory symptoms, should immediately wear masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors. Healthcare professionals should pay special attention to patients who might have had contact with poultry, birds or their droppings in affected areas and provinces,” the spokesman advised.
 
     Members of the public should remain vigilant and take heed of the preventive advice against avian influenza below:
 
* Do not visit live poultry markets. Avoid contact with poultry, birds and their droppings. If contact has been made, thoroughly wash hands with soap;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently with soap, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, handling food or eating; after going to the toilet or touching public installations or equipment (including escalator handrails, elevator control panels and door knobs); or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
* Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue and put it into a covered dustbin;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with fever patients;
* Wear masks when respiratory symptoms develop or when taking care of fever patients;
* Travellers if feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if having a fever or cough, should wear a surgical mask and inform the hotel staff or tour leader and seek medical advice at once; and
* Travellers returning from affected areas with avian influenza outbreaks should consult doctors promptly if they have flu-like symptoms, and inform the doctor of the travel history and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.
 
     The public may visit the CHP’s avian influenza page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html) and website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/global_statistics_avian_influenza_e.pdf) for more information on avian influenza-affected areas and provinces. read more

     The Labour Department (LD) today (February 21) commenced a two-week special inspection exercise, targeting construction sites with large-scale bamboo scaffolds throughout the territory, including checking the safety and stability conditions of these bamboo scaffolds, with the aim of ensuring the work safety of workers.  

     If any violations of the legislation are detected during the inspection exercise, occupational safety officers of the LD will take rigorous enforcement actions, including issuing suspension notices and improvement notices, and taking out prosecutions without prior warning, in order to deter unsafe operations.

     A spokesman for the LD said, “We are deeply concerned about the serious work accident involving the collapse of a bamboo scaffold at a construction site in Kai Tak yesterday (February 20), resulting in the deaths of two workers and injuries to three others. The LD is collaborating with relevant departments to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the accident and ascertain the liability of duty holders. The LD will take actions pursuant to the law if there are any violations of the occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation.”   

     The spokesman added, “The LD is currently amending its Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety (CoP), which involves enhancement of the stability of bamboo scaffolds, including the technical requirements for putlogs, and prohibiting unauthorised alteration of bamboo scaffolds. The amendments will also require bamboo scaffolders to possess valid safety training certificates before they are allowed to carry out relevant scaffolding work. In addition, the CoP will also set out in detail the work requirements of ‘Competent Persons’ in supervising workers performing scaffolding work. We plan to issue this revised CoP between March and April this year.” 

     Under the general duty provisions of the OSH legislation, employers who commit extremely serious offences can be prosecuted on indictment, which is subject to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years. Employees who contravene the aforesaid provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     The LD reminds contractors and employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health to safeguard the work safety of workers. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and properly use personal protective equipment provided to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more

     â€‹The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting yesterday (February 20) to discuss and issue the updated consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong.

     The JSC reviewed the latest scientific evidence, and noted that all available COVID-19 vaccines (including inactivated virus and mRNA vaccines) are effective in reducing death and severe COVID-19 infection. Experts also noted results of early studies indicating that the monovalent XBB mRNA vaccines could provide enhanced protection against JN.1, which has become the predominant COVID-19 variant in Hong Kong.

     Experts made the following recommendations:
 

1. Use of vaccines – When there is adequate supply, monovalent XBB mRNA vaccine (now provided to high-risk priority groups as a choice for initial and booster vaccination) is recommended to be extended to initial vaccination of non high-risk priority groups (e.g. healthy adults) who do not require booster vaccination, having regard to the enhanced protection offered by the vaccine. Individuals can also choose other available COVID-19 vaccines (including inactivated virus and mRNA vaccines), based on personal preference, for initial and booster vaccination given their effectiveness in reducing death and severe COVID-19 infection.
    
2. Priority groups and vaccination schedule for booster – The JSC considered the previous recommendation could remain applicable throughout the year. In other words, a booster dose is recommended to be given at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously, for the following high-risk priority groups for enhanced protection – 

 

• older adults aged 50 or above including those living in residential care homes;
• persons aged 18 to 49 years with underlying comorbidities;
• persons with immunocompromising conditions aged six months and above;
• pregnant women; and
• healthcare workers. 

     
     Having regard to the above recommendation on the use of vaccines for non high-risk priority groups, the Government will continue to closely monitor the supply of monovalent XBB mRNA vaccines, and make suitable adjustment to the use of vaccines as and when appropriate.
      
      â€‹Details of the interim recommendations are available on the CHP’s website at www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24008.html. read more

     Police today (February 21) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tin Shui Wai.      Kwok Ping-sum, aged 70, went missing after he was last seen in Tin Yiu Estate yesterday (February 20) afternoon. His family … read more