2005-01-21
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is liaising closely with the Hospital Authority in the investigation into a cluster of cases who developed fever and respiratory symptoms earlier this week, involving four female in-patients and a staff of a ward of Prince of Wales Hospital.
The cases of three of the in-patients, aged between 49 and 76, and the staff were reported to the CHP on January 18 while the fifth case, involving a 90-year-old woman, was notified today (January 21). The date of onset of the last case was January 19.
Specimen of one of the in-patients was positive to adenovirus type 1 by DH's Public Health Laboratory Centre. So far tests for other viruses including SARS coronavirus were negative.
The four affected in-patients are now in stable condition. Three of them were being treated in isolation wards and the other one was discharged today. The staff has recovered.
The CHP has interviewed and provided health advice on personal hygiene and environmental hygiene to 92 exposed patients and their visitors. None of them developed compatible symptoms.
Further laboratory tests are being conducted.
End/Friday, January 21, 2005