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Monday, July 1, 2013

Hong Kong : Fever patient with travel history tests negative for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Via Hong Kong's CHP :

" A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 1) provided an update on a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome affecting a 51-year-old man.

The preliminary laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP on his respiratory specimen yielded negative result for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. The patient is in stable condition.

The CHP received notification from Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) yesterday (June 30). The patient has presented with fever, cough and sputum since June 26. He consulted a private doctor on June 28 and 30 and was subsequently transferred to PMH for isolation and treatment.

Locally, the CHP will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

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

"We would like to reassure the public that the Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information on cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Whenever there is a suspected case, particularly involving patients with travel history to the Middle East, the CHP will release information to the public as soon as possible," the spokesman remarked.

Health-care workers and hospitals are reminded to maintain vigilance against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and adhere to strict infection control measures while handling suspected cases in order to reduce the risk of transmission to other patients, health-care workers and visitors."

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