Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (May 10) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.

     The case involves a 2-month-old baby girl with good past health, who has presented with cough, runny nose and vomiting since April 28 and fever since May 8. She was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital for medical attention on April 30 and was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on the same day for management. The patient has all along been in a stable condition.

     Her cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had recently travelled to Qingyuan, Guangdong. Her home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far. Investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant and observe the following preventive measures:
 

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

     Children suffering from EV infection should stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.

     The public may visit the CHP’s page on hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71 infection for more information. read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (May 10) investigating two cases of measles infection.

     As at 4pm today, two cases were recorded. The first case involves a 47-year-old man with good past health who developed cough since May 6 and fever and rash since May 8. He consulted private doctors on May 6 and 8, attended the Accident and Emergency Department at Prince of Wales Hospital on May 8 and was admitted for treatment on the following day. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition. The patient’s measles vaccination history is unknown. He had no travel history during the incubation period and communicable period.

​     The second case involves a 27-year-old woman with good past health who developed fever on May 4 and rash since May 8. She consulted a private doctor and attended the Accident and Emergency Department at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on May 8 and was admitted for treatment on the same day. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition. The patient’s measles vaccination history is unknown. She travelled to the Philippines during the incubation period but had no travel history during the communicable period.

     According to both patients, they did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. Their home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance.

      Upon notification of the cases, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patients visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     “The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Symptoms of measles include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. If symptoms arise, members of the public should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals,” a spokesman for the DH advised.

     Regarding measles control measures implemented at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), a total of four persons had received measles vaccination at the airport vaccination station as at 6pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 8 393.

     From tomorrow (May 11) to May 17 (excluding Sundays and public holidays), measles vaccination will be provided to airport staff who:

(1) Were born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before; or
(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination station at the airport remains at 600 doses daily. The venue and operation hours of the airport vaccination station are as follows:
 

Venue:	Multi-function Room, HKIA Tower (Level 5, Terminal 2)
Hours:	May 11 to 17 (excluding Sundays and public holidays) 10am to 1pm 2pm to 6pm

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     Hongkong Post announced today (May 10) that as from June 1, as requested by the Government of the United States (US), all mail items except small and large letters to be sent to US must have electronic customs information submitted in English at the time of posting. Mail items which do not have electronic customs information submitted cannot be sent to the US.
      
     Customers need to provide the English electronic customs data through Hongkong Post’s online platform/mobile app Easy PreCustoms (easy-precustoms.hongkongpost.hk/epc/?), or other online platforms EC-Ship, My Speedpost, or relevant facilities in post offices. Senders of items without electronic customs information will be requested to supplement the required information or the items will be returned to them. Mail senders need to write return address on the mail items. If there is no return address or the sender cannot be contacted, the item will be destroyed. Postage will not be refunded where return or disposal is caused by these circumstances.  
      
     The mails items for which electronic customs data are required cover all mail items except small and large letters, i.e. all Speedpost, air and surface parcels, registered and ordinary packets, e-Express and iMail items. The required customs information includes the sender’s information, addressee’s information and particulars of contents, which are the same as currently provided in the paper declaration forms.
      
     Hongkong Post encourages the public to use Hongkong Post’s Easy PreCustoms online platform as a one-stop service to input data and print out the posting form bearing a barcode, so as to avoid the need to obtain barcode labels from post offices before posting.   

     For registered and ordinary packets, if the public has not used Easy PreCustoms to provide data and a print posting form bearing a barcode, senders still need to fill in printed customs declaration form and affix a mail barcode label (available in any post office) onto the mail item and then enter the customs information together with the barcode number via the online platforms before posting. read more

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island this Sunday (May 12) to facilitate members of the public to celebrate the Tam Kung Festival. Shau Kei Wan ————     &nb… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:      The Legislative Council (LegCo) and its Committees will hold 13 open meetings, a public hearing and a closed meeting during the week from May 13 … read more