The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day 2023 with various government departments and mountaineering organisations today (October 22) at MacPherson Playground in Mong Kok to enhance public awareness o… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 22) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The 2023/24 seasonal influenza vaccination programmes have started and the CHP appealed to members of the public to receive free seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) to better protect themselves in the coming influenza season.
The case involves a 15-year-old female patient with good past health. She developed fever and sore throat on October 21. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Princess Margaret Hospital and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for treatment on the same day. Her nasopharyngeal swab was positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon
laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was paediatric influenza infection complicated with shock. Her condition improved after treatment and she is now in stable condition.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Her home contacts are currently asymptomatic. The CHP’s investigations are ongoing.
A spokesman for the CHP said, “Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged six months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website.”
A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses and note the following:
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 21) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary private car. About 194 kilograms of unmanifested live lobsters with an estimated market value of about $240,000 were seized.
Customs yesterday intercepted an outbound seven-seater private car which was claimed to have nothing to declare at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Upon inspection, a total of 10 boxes of unmanifested live lobsters, weighing about 194kg, were seized in the mid row passenger seats and boot of the car. A 46-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities by use of cross-boundary private cars with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, continued his visit in Thailand today (October 22). In the morning, he visited the “Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival” exhibition in Bangkok. The exhibition is organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), introducing Hong Kong’s ICH items through exhibits, photos, short videos and interactive games. Mr Yeung then visited the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre to learn more about art and cultural development in Thailand and appreciate the artworks created by artists of different styles. He also visited the “Immersive Hong Kong” roving exhibition organised by the Information Services Department in Bangkok.
In the afternoon, Mr Yeung attended the opening ceremony of the “Next Generation: Emerging Directors Exhibition & Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation” organised by Create Hong Kong and funded by the Hong Kong Film Development Fund (FDF). Seven Hong Kong films, including those by budding directors, such as “A Guilty Conscience” and “A Light Never Goes Out”, were screened and the promotional materials and film sets of the films supported by the FDF were showcased in the exhibition. Mr Yeung also visited the “JUXTAPOSED 2023 Hong Kong Fashion in Bangkok” opening ceremony organised by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and sponsored by Create Hong Kong and attended the opening fashion presentation.
Mr Yeung attended the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok opening ceremony and opening programme organised by the LCSD yesterday (October 21). Held in Bangkok, Thailand from October 21 to November 12, the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok is an overseas cultural exchange extravaganza organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, with the support from the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Thailand.
Mr Yeung also visited the Thai Film Archive, which presents “Movies to GO – Border Crossings in Hong Kong Cinema – Thailand” in collaboration with the Hong Kong Film Archive at the Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok. Co-productions of the two places and three Hong Kong film classics in the 1980s and 1990s that had inspired some Thai film directors, namely “Police Story”, “An Autumn’s Tale” and “Once a Thief” are screened.
Mr Yeung will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (October 23) morning.
Attention TV/ radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (O… read more