Case of fever with travel history to KSA under investigation

Ends/Saturday, March 9, 2013

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received a report from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) tonight (March 9) of a suspected case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus.

     The 31-year-old man, with good past health, presented with cough on March 3 and fever and headache since March 9. He was admitted to QEH for isolation and treatment tonight. His current condition is stable.

     Investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from March 4 to 7. His wife with no recent travel history has cough and sore throat since March 8. She is also being isolated in QEH as a precautionary measure.

     Their chest X-ray were clear. Laboratory test results are expected to be available tomorrow.

     "The CHP will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus," a DH spokesman remarked.

     "No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong," the spokesman stressed.

     The spokesman advised travellers returning from novel coronavirus-affected countries with respiratory symptoms to wear face masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public to pay attention to personal hygiene, especially wash hands:

* Before touching the eyes, nose and mouth;
* Before eating or handling food;
* After using the toilets; and
* After sneezing or coughing and cleaning the nose.

     For more information on personal hygiene, members of the public may visit the CHP's website:
www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/19899.html .


Issued at HKT 23:20