[editing is mine]
By On May 13, 2013
Representatives from the Department of Health (DH) and the
Hospital Authority (HA) met today (May 13) to review the latest global
situation of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel
Coronavirus in view of the occurrence of a 15-person outbreak in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) associated with a health-care facility and
a possible nosocomial transmission in France.
-snip-
Speaking at a media session after the meeting, the Controller of the
Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, Dr Leung Ting-hung,
expressed concern over the latest global development of the disease.
“These outbreaks illustrated the potential of novel coronavirus to
spread through health-care facilities and close contacts. However, there
is so far no evidence that this virus has the capacity to sustain
generalised transmission in communities. The outbreak in the health-care
facility in the KSA suggested that patients with multiple comorbidities
in health-care facilities may have had increased susceptibility to
infection or severe disease,” Dr Leung said.
“The reservoir, mode of transmission and extent of infection in the
community are still being investigated by the World Health Organization
and relevant health authorities,” Dr Leung said, adding that the CHP
will closely monitor the developments on novel coronavirus infection and
assess their impact to Hong Kong.
He advised health-care workers as well as public and private
hospitals to maintain vigilance against novel coronovirus infection,
especially adhering to strict infection control practices when handling
suspected cases.
Also speaking at the media session, the Associate Consultant of the
Chief Infection Control Officer’s Office of the HA, Dr Vivien Chuang,
said, “The Authority has adopted the ‘early notification, early
isolation and early detection’ strategy in response to Severe
Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus. The Accident and
Emergency Departments of public hospitals will screen patients based on
FTOCC (Fever, Travel, Occupation, Contact and Clustering) criteria. Any
patients who meet the clinical and epidemiological criteria will be
placed in a negative pressure room with a mask on while waiting for
further clinical assessment. Full Personal Protective Equipment should
be worn for all staff in handling the suspected cases, including N95
respirator, eye protection, gown and gloves.”
Dr Chuang added, “The CHP will also be notified immediately and
specimens will be collected and sent for rapid testing with the result
available within 24 hours. Suspected and confirmed cases would be
isolated in a negative pressure room with en suite facility.”
Continued: http://bigmedicine.ca/wordpress/2013/05/china-hong-kong-dh-and-ha-meet-to-review-latest-global-situation-of-novel-coronavirus-infection/
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