Tag Archives: China

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 14) investigating an imported case of cholera, and again appealed to the public for good personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.

     The case involves a 29-year-old male with good past health, who travelled overseas with his family from June 2 to 4 and developed diarrhoea starting from June 5. He sought medical attention at Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital on June 10 and no admission was required at that time.

     His stool specimen today yielded toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa upon testing by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch. The patient was admitted to a private hospital for isolation and management yesterday (June 13). He has been in stable condition.

     Initial investigations revealed that his travel collaterals and home contacts are asymptomatic and have been put under medical surveillance. Officers of the CHP have inspected the patient’s residence and collected clinical and environmental samples for testing. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has also conducted thorough cleaning and disinfection at the relevant residence.

     No epidemiological linkages have been found so far between this case and another previously recorded imported case in Hong Kong with a similar travel history. The CHP’s investigations are ongoing.

     “Most cholera patients have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting. Some patients with severe symptoms present with a sudden onset of profuse diarrhoea with rice-water-like and fishy smelling stools, nausea and vomiting. Without prompt treatment, these patients may die from severe dehydration,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Cholera is usually contracted through consumption of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. Human-to-human transmission rarely happens.

     The CHP advised the public to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel:
 

• Wash hands properly with liquid soap and water before eating or handling food, after going to the toilet or changing diapers, and after handling garbage;
• Avoid handling food when having symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea;
• Purchase food from hygienic and reliable sources. Do not patronise illegal hawkers;
• Handle raw, cooked and ready-to-eat food with separate utensils and store them separately;
• Ensure thorough cooking of food before consumption;
• Discard any spoilt food;
• Clean the refrigerator regularly. Maintain the fridge at or below 4 degrees Celsius and the freezer at or below -18 degrees C;
• Maintain proper sanitary facilities and drainage systems; and
• Clean and disinfect toilets used by an infected person and the soiled areas.

     In addition, travellers to cholera-affected areas should:
 

• Cook food and boil water thoroughly before consumption. Do not patronise illegal hawkers. Avoid eating cold dishes like salads. Wash and peel fruit by yourself. Do not use ice for beverages. If water cannot be boiled, treat water with chlorine or iodine before consumption; and
• Travellers returning from affected areas should consult a doctor promptly if symptoms develop. Reveal the travel history and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene.

     The public may visit the CHP’s cholera page for more information. read more

     The International Arts Carnival (IAC), a summer arts festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will present an immersive and interactive dance theatre production, “+Erba – A Forest in the City”, by Italian art group Compagnia TPO from July 24 to 29. Fusing art, physical fun and learning, the programme allows children to be part of the performance, where they can build an imaginative green city with their body movements and learn how humans and nature can prosper together.
 
     In the programme, children will be invited into a white cube transformed from the stage to use their bodies as paintbrushes to create their ideal city. Participants can add lush forests, open fields of grass, airy houses or bustling streets to the city as they wish. Be it a natural landscape or man-made structures, technology will make the wildest imagination come true. Every movement of the participants will be projected on the wall instantly to form a unique work of art.
 
     “+Erba – A Forest in the City” will be held from July 24 to 29 at 2.30pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm daily at the Sha Tin Town Hall Cultural Activities Hall. The programme contains limited dialogue in English. Tickets priced at $320 (free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone booking, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app “URBTIX”.
 
     Each performance will be followed by a free workshop where ticket holders can make bracelets from natural materials such as grass, flowers and seeds, as well as biodegradable masking tape. The final product can be put back into the soil to flourish again.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.
 
     This year’s IAC will run from July 5 to August 11 featuring a wide array of fun-filled educational programmes by overseas, Mainland and local art groups and artists. In addition to acrobatics, magic, dance, music, theatre and puppetry, the IAC will also offer film screenings, online programmes, parent-child workshops and an exhibition.

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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 14) investigating a probable case of botulism after receiving injections of botulinum toxin in Zhuhai. The CHP again reminded the public that botulinum toxin injections should only be prescribed and performed by registered doctors.

     The case involves a female patient aged 57 with good past health. She has presented with symptoms including slurred speech and swallowing difficulty since May 18, and ptosis since May 19. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital and was admitted for treatment on May 22, but was discharged against medical advice on the same day. She was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital again on May 23 due to increased slurred speech and swallowing difficulties and was discharged after treatment on May 25. The patient attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital on June 2 due to shortness of breath, choking and limb weakness. She was admitted on the same day and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for further management on June 5. She is now in critical condition. The clinical diagnosis was suspected iatrogenic botulism.

     Initial investigations revealed that the patient received botulinum toxin injections at a beauty parlour in Zhuhai on April 27 and May 15. The CHP has reported the case to the relevant authority of the Mainland. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

     “In Hong Kong, Botulinum toxin injections should only be performed by a locally registered doctor. Customers should verify the doctor’s full name against the list of registered doctors of the Medical Council of Hong Kong as well as their professional qualifications and relevant experience. When receiving injections outside Hong Kong, pay special attention to ensure the provider is qualified or registered with relevant jurisdictions for practice. In case of injections obtained from suspicious sources, refrain from receiving them. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice from eligible medical professionals as soon as possible,” a spokesman for the DH said.

     Due to the weakening of associated muscles and the fact that botulinum toxin may spread and affect other areas beyond the injection site, affected patients may have drooping of the eyelids, double vision or blurred vision, problems with chewing, hoarseness or even difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, which may happen hours, days or weeks after the injection.

     The DH urged the public to observe the health advice below before receiving botulinum toxin injections:
 

• Injections in Hong Kong should only be performed by locally registered doctors;
• Understand the procedure, potential risks and complications before receiving injections. Consult a doctor for an informed decision;
• Do not receive injections obtained from suspicious sources;
• Do not receive an injection in the case of a history of allergy to botulinum toxin, or infection or inflammation on the injection site;
• Request the full name of the doctor in writing if referred by a beauty service provider for the procedure, as well as the professional qualifications and relevant experience; and
• If symptoms develop, such as fever or feeling unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

     â€‹The public may visit the DH’s webpage on the differentiation between medical procedures and beauty services, the Drug Database of the Drug Office and the CHP’s botulism page for more information.​ read more

     The Expert Group on Conservation for Sha Lo Tung convened the first meeting today (June 14). The Expert Group focused the discussion on the priority tasks to conserve the ecology and biodiversity of Sha Lo Tung.  &… read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Department of Education of Guangdong Province today (June 14) held the Guangdong-Hong Kong Sister Kindergarten Exchange Programme Signing Ceremony and Annual Exchange Activity. A total of 100 kindergartens from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong participated.
 
     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province Mr Feng Wei; the First-level Inspector of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Liu Maozhou; and Vice President of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) Ms Sarah Wong officiated at the Signing Ceremony and Annual Exchange Activity. Together with the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, Dr Choi and Mr Feng also witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Guangdong-Hong Kong Sister Kindergarten Learning Circle by representatives of the kindergartens from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Choi said President Xi Jinping had said that Chinese civilisation is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity. It is the unique cultural identity of the Chinese nation and the foundation of the contemporary Chinese culture. Kindergarten education is an important stage of children’s growth and a key period for cultivating their cultural literacy and sense of national identity. It helps children understand and appreciate Chinese culture from an early age, build a sense of belonging to and a pride of their country, and enhance their sense of national identity.
 
     Following the signing ceremony, a professional seminar was held by the EDB of the Government of the HKSAR and the Department of Education of Guangdong Province in collaboration with the EdUHK to explore how to promote Chinese culture to kindergarten students in diversified modes such as music, languages and curriculum. Scholars from the EdUHK and kindergarten principals from Guangdong Province shared their research findings and exchanged practical experiences with the sector. Over 2 400 kindergarten principals, teachers, academics and experts from Hong Kong and different cities in Guangdong Province participated in person and online in parallel.
 
     In addition, delegates of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province and representatives from kindergartens of Guangdong Province visited five local kindergartens in groups this morning to conduct in-depth exchanges on learning and teaching with Hong Kong kindergarten principals and teachers.
 
     The EDB of the Government of the HKSAR and the Department of Education of Guangdong Province have been running the Guangdong-Hong Kong Sister Kindergarten Exchange Programme since this school year to strengthen connection between the Mainland and Hong Kong in early childhood education, with a focus on fostering professional exchanges and collaboration between teachers from the two places, and enhancing the quality of kindergarten education. Participating kindergartens will form a Guangdong-Hong Kong sister kindergarten learning circle and launch various professional exchange activities through different channels and in diversified modes to further raise the professionalism of teachers in both places.

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