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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Hong Kong : Public urged to be vigilant against upper respiratory tract infection

Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 18) called on 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 a residential child care centre in Causeway Bay involving 22 children aged between three and seven.

Investigation revealed that the affected children, comprising 13 males and nine females, have developed URI symptoms including fever, runny nose, cough and sore throat since February 20. Three of them were hospitalised but have already been discharged. All the affected children are in stable condition.

Throat swabs/nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from five of the affected children tested positive for adenovirus.

Staff of the CHP have conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the institution.

A CHP spokesman said adenovirus is a group of viruses that commonly cause viral infection in children. The symptoms may vary from respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat, to gastroenteritis illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhoea. It may also cause conjunctivitis."

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