Biological Hazard – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-COv): Hong Kong

Epidemic Hazard  – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-COv)

Asia  –  China | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,  Hong Kong
Bio-hazard Level: 4/4 Hazardous
Location: N 22° 23.786, E 114° 6.570
Deaths: 1
Infected: 3
Quarantined: >100

Update No. 3 on Friday, 01 August, 2014 at 11:37 UTC

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced on Monday that it is investigating two suspected cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-Cov). The announcement came as a 2-year-old boy suspected to have the disease tested negative, according to a CHP press release. One of the suspected cases is a 34-year-old man who recently traveled from Pakistan to Hong Kong via Dubai. The man was screened with a fever at Hong Kong International Airport, and is currently in stable condition and isolation at the Princess Margaret hospital. The other suspected case is a 45-year-old woman who returned to Hong Kong from Paris via Dubai on July 26. The woman is also in stable condition, and isolation, at the Princess Margaret hospital. The boy who tested negative for MERS-CoV traveled from Dubai to Hong Kong on July 23 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on July 26. “The government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information,” a spokesman for the DH said. “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.”

Update No. 2 on Thursday, 31 July, 2014 at 07:46 UTC

A hospital and more than 100 Chinese were under quarantine after a man died of bubonic plague on July 16. State officials said the 38-year-old man, who died in Yumen City in China’s Gasnu province, is believed to have come into contact with a dead marmot (pictured), which he fed to his dog, according to BBC News. In response, a total of 151 people who had been in contact with the man were placed under observation until the quarantine was lifted on July 24; none showed signs of infection.

Update No. 1 on Tuesday, 29 July, 2014 at 03:37 UTC

WA health authorities have stepped up monitoring of a SARS-related virus that has caused more than 280 deaths overseas. From this month, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, has become a notifiable dangerous infectious disease under WA’s Health Act. Although no cases have been found in Australia, a surge in infections in Saudi Arabia and the first cases in Britain and the US have raised concerns about its potential to enter Australia. Its listing in WA means doctors and pathology laboratories have to notify authorities if anyone becomes infected. It also gives the department the power to order public health measures such as isolation, quarantining and testing. MERS-CoV belongs to the same family of viruses as SARS, which emerged in southern China in late 2002 and caused havoc to international travel. This month, the Commonwealth Health Department said the number of reported cases of MERS-CoV had increased sharply in April and May. According to the World Health Organisation, there have been 836 confirmed cases, including 288 deaths. Affected countries in the Middle East include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon and Yemen. Countries reporting cases in travellers from the Middle East include France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Britain, Malaysia, the Philippines and the US. In a disease bulletin, the WA Health Department said though no cases of the virus had been diagnosed in Australia, many travellers from the Middle East with respiratory diseases had been investigated. “It seems inevitable that cases will eventually be confirmed in Australia, given the frequency of travel from the Middle East region, including pilgrims returning from the Hajj and Umrah,” it said. Camels appear to have been a primary source of infection in recent cases overseas. ‘It seems inevitable that cases will eventually be confirmed in Australia.’ ” WA Health Department

Biological Hazard in China on Monday, 28 July, 2014 at 14:08 (02:08 PM) UTC.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (July 28) investigating two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) affecting a 34-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, and called on the public to stay alert and maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene during travel. In addition, the CHP provided an update on the suspected case of MERS notified yesterday (July 27). The 2-year-old boy’s respiratory specimen tested negative for MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The first patient is a 34-year-old man with good past health. He travelled from Pakistan to Hong Kong via Dubai yesterday and arrived in Hong Kong today. He has presented with fever and vomiting and was screened to have fever at the Hong Kong International Airport today. He was subsequently transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation. He is currently in stable condition. The second patient is a 45-year-old woman with good past health. She returned to Hong Kong from Paris via Dubai on July 25 and arrived in Hong Kong on July 26. She has presented with fever and diarrhoea since yesterday and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation today. She is currently in stable condition. Both patients’ respiratory specimens have been collected for laboratory testing by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB). Their travel collaterals have remained asymptomatic. Regarding the suspected case of MERS notified yesterday, the 2-year-old boy’s nasopharyngeal aspirate tested negative for MERS-CoV upon preliminary laboratory testing by the CHP’s PHLSB. The patient travelled with his family from Dubai to Hong Kong on July 23.

He has presented with fever since July 24 and cough since July 26. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on July 26 and has been in stable condition. His travel collaterals remain asymptomatic. “We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East not to arrange camel rides and activities involving camel contact, which may increase the risk of infection. In addition, travellers are reminded to avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, and avoid contact with animals, especially camels, birds, poultry or sick people during travel,” a spokesman for the DH said. “Recent scientific studies supported the premise that camels served as the primary source of MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infecting humans. A study further suggested that human MERS-CoV infections could be transmitted through close contact with infected camels,” the spokesman explained. Locally, the DH’s surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and at the airport is well in place. Suspected cases identified will be sent to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV. “MERS is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and the PHLSB is capable of detecting the virus. No human cases have been recorded so far in Hong Kong,” the spokesman said. “The Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information. 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 added. Early identification of MERS-CoV is important, but not all cases can be detected in a timely manner, especially mild or atypical cases. Health-care workers (HCWs) should maintain vigilance and adhere to strict infection control measures while handling suspected or confirmed cases to reduce the risk of transmission to other patients, HCWs or visitors. Regular education should be provided. Travellers returning from the Middle East who develop respiratory symptoms should wear face masks, seek medical attention and report their travel history to the doctor. HCWs should arrange MERS-CoV testing for them. Patients’ lower respiratory tract specimens should be tested when possible and repeat testing should be undertaken when clinical and epidemiological clues strongly suggest MERS.

Source: RSOE EDIS