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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Hong Kong : Upper respiratory tract infection outbreak under CHP investigation

Press release from CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 2) appealed to members of the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent upper respiratory tract infection (URI).

The appeal followed the CHP's investigation into a URI outbreak at three residential homes for the elderly managed under the same company and co-located in the same building in Tai Po involving 26 residents aged 55 to 97.

Investigations revealed that the affected residents, comprising 11 males and 15 females, developed symptoms of URI including fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat since June 10.

Twenty-five of the affected residents sought medical consultation and eight of them required hospitalisation. Respiratory specimens of five residents tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). One of the patients passed away due to underlying illness. The other patients are all currently in a stable condition.

Officers of the CHP conducted a site visit and provided preventive advice against URI to the institution. The institution was placed under medical surveillance."

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