Chairman's Announcement (6 Oct 2016)
Prevention of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Acute Gastroenteritis
According to the latest surveillance data of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, the local activity of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Acute Gastroenteritis are increasing and may further increase in the following weeks. The Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to advise students and colleagues to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene, seek medical advice as soon as possible when feeling unwell.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common disease in children caused by enteroviruses such as coxsackieviruses and enterovirus 71 (EV71). The EV71 infection is of particular concern as it more likely associates with severe outcomes (like viral meningitis, encephalitis, poliomyelitis-like paralysis) and even death. The usual peak season for HFMD in Hong Kong is from early summer to autumn and, a smaller peak may also occur in winter. The disease is most contagious during the first week of the illness and the viruses can be found in stool for weeks. It mainly spreads by contact with nose or throat discharges, saliva, fluid from vesicles or patients' stool, or after touching contaminated objects.
Acute Gastroenteritis
Acute gastroenteritis is usually caused by norovirus or rotavirus infection. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted by consumption of contaminated food, contact with the vomitus or excreta or infected persons, contaminated objects and aerosol spread with contaminated droplets of splashed vomitus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and malaise. Although infections are usually mild and self-limiting, they are highly infectious and may result in outbreaks that are difficult to control. It is a frequent cause of outbreaks in institutions. The disease affects people of all age groups and tends to be more common during winter.
Prevention
Please visit the website of Centre for Health Protection:
Chairman's Announcement (1 Sep 2016)
Confirmed Case of Chikungunya Fever on Campus
There is a confirmed case of Chikungunya Fever of a CU visitor who had stayed in campus on 19 August 2016 and 23 August 2016. This visitor had fever and was admitted to hospital in night time on 19 August 2016 and discharged on 23 August 2016. The case was diagnosed and reported to the Centre of Health Protection (CHP) of Department of Health (DH) on 30 August 2016. CHP will conduct surveillance if necessary.
Chikungunya Fever is characterized by fever frequently accompanied by joint pain. Other common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and skin rash. Serious complications and fatality are rare. Sufferers from symptoms of the disease should seek prompt medical advice. We keep alert and clinical surveillance on secondary cases has already started in our UHS clinic. As a prevention, staff of Estate Management Office has taken immediate action and arrangement on anti-mosquito measures inside the campus.
As Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, the Committee on Health Promotion and Protection (CHPP) recommends staff and students to take personal protection measures, such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers, and using insect repellents containing DEET over exposed parts of the body.
For more information about Chikungunya Fever, please visit:
http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/6122.html
Chairman's Announcement (30 Aug 2016)
Update on Zika Virus Infection
According to The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), the first imported case was confirmed in Hong Kong last week. In addition, there are emerging local Zika cases in Singapore recently. The Committee on Health Promotion and Protection (CHPP) would like to advise students and colleagues to step up efforts to adopt strict anti-mosquito measures like using insect repellents and safe sex during travel. Pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should not travel to affected areas.
CHPP would like to highlight the special notes for preventing Zika Virus Infection as below:
A. Travelling abroad
- If going to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission (affected areas), travellers, especially those with immune disorders or severe chronic illnesses, should arrange consultation with a doctor at least six weeks before the trip, and take extra preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites;
- Those arriving from affected areas should apply insect repellent for at least 21 days upon arrival. If feeling unwell, such as having a fever, seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to the doctor;
- Travellers should consider not having sex during travel to affected areas, or else condoms should be used;
- Travellers returning from affected areas should consider abstinence for at least two months upon return, or else condoms should be used. If diagnosed with Zika Virus Infection or having compatible symptoms, they should consider abstinence for at least six months upon onset, or else condoms should be used;
B. Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy
- Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy should not travel to affected areas. Those who must travel should seek medical advice from their doctor before the trip, adopt contraception if appropriate, strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip, and consult and reveal their travel history to their doctor if symptoms develop after the trip;
- Women preparing for pregnancy are advised to continue to adopt contraception for at least two months after returning from affected areas if they have no symptoms of Zika Virus Infection, or six months if one or both members of the couple are symptomatic;
C. Special notes for prevention of sexual transmission regarding adverse pregnancy outcomes
- Pregnant women should not have sex with partners who have travelled to affected areas, or else condoms should be used;
- Travellers returning from affected areas should:
- Abstain from sex with pregnant partners, or else use condoms throughout the pregnancy; and
- Use condoms for at least six months if female partners may get pregnant.
For more information, please visit the following pages for more disease information and health advice:
Zika Page of the CHP
(http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html)
DH's Travel Health Service
(http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup_zika.html)
The Outbound Travel Alert page of the Security Bureau
(http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/)
Anti-mosquito precautions for women
(http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/woman/30014.html)
WHO Zika virus situation reports
(http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/situation-report/en/)
Chairman's Announcement (27 July 2016)
Update on Zika Virus Infection
The World Health Organization reported that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Zika virus is mainly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It has also been found in human semen and transmission by sexual contact has been confirmed. Other modes of transmission such as blood transfusion and perinatal transmission are possible.
The Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to advise the university community to pay attention to the latest development of the Zika virus infection and observe relevant health advice before travelling to the affected areas. Departments and Colleges should not arrange any activities to affected areas.
For details on prevention of Zika virus infection, including those for pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy and travellers returning from affected areas, please visit the Centre for Health Protection's Zika virus infection page (http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/43088.html).
Chairman's Announcement (19 May 2016)
Vigilance against Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and
Enterovirus 71 Infection
According to the Centre of Health Protection of the Department of Health, the latest surveillance data showed that Hong Kong is entering into the traditional peak season of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. The Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to advise students and colleagues to maintain strict personal hygiene to prevent the disease.
The usual peak season of HFMD and EV71 is from May to July, with a possible smaller winter peak from October to December. HFMD is common in children and is usually caused by EVs such as Coxsackievirus and EV71. It is clinically characterised by maculopapular rash or vesicular lesions occurring on the palms, soles and other parts of the body such as the buttocks and thighs. Vesicular lesions and ulcers may also be found in the oral cavity. Sometimes patients present mainly with painful ulcers at the back of the mouth, namely herpangina, without rash on the hands or feet.
To prevent HFMD and EV71 infection, you need to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene:
- Maintain good air circulation;
- Wash hands before meals and after going to the toilet or handling diapers or other stool-soiled materials;
- Keep hands clean and wash hands properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
- Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and oral discharges properly;
- Clean objects thoroughly and frequently with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of household bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water), followed by rinsing or wiping with clean water;
- Students who are ill should be kept out of school until their fever has subsided and all vesicles have dried and crusted; and
- Avoid going to overcrowded places.
For more information, please visit the Centre for Health Protection's page on HFMD and EV71 infection (http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/16354.html).
Chairman's Announcement (21 Mar 2016)
The Alert Response Level under the Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for the Zika Virus Infection is activated
With a view to reducing the public health impact on Hong Kong due to Zika virus infection, the Government has launched the Preparedness and Response Plan for the Zika Virus Infection. The Alert Response Level under the Plan is activated.
Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Zika virus. The current major concern is the possible association with adverse pregnancy outcome (microcephaly) and neurological and autoimmune complications such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
The Centre for Health Protection advised that pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. Travellers should seek medical advice before the trip and avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Travellers who return from affected areas and feel unwell e.g. having fever, should seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to doctors.
For details on prevention of Zika virus infection, including those for pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy and travellers returning from affected areas, please refer to the factsheet of Zika Virus Infection (http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/43088.html).
Chairman's Announcement (4 Feb 2016)
Beware of Zika Virus Infection
Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Zika virus. The most common symptoms are fever and skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle or joint pain and general malaise. The symptoms are usually mild and last for a few days. The incubation period is not clear, but is likely to be a few days to a week.
Zika virus is mainly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Zika virus can also be transmitted through blood or sexual transmission but this is not common. The relationship between microcephaly in babies and the Zika virus infection is being investigated.
At present, there is no effective vaccine or specific medication for Zika virus infection. The treatment of Zika virus infection is mainly for relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration. Patients should seek medical consultation if symptoms worsen.
To prevent Zika virus infection, you have to protect yourselves from mosquito bites and help prevent mosquito proliferation. Pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy should consider deferring their trip to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission. Travellers should seek medical advice before the trip and avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Travellers who return from affected areas and feel unwell e.g. having fever, should seek medical advice as soon as possible, and provide travel details to doctors.
For more information, please visit the Centre for Health Protection website:
Zika Virus Infection (http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/43086.html)
Prevention of Vector-borne Diseases (http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/34622.html)
Chairman's Announcement (22 Jan 2016)
Health Precautions for Cold Weather
The latest surveillance data of the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, revealed that the local seasonal influenza activity has been increasing. Also, the winter influenza season is expected to arrive soon. As cold weather can easily trigger diseases, the Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to advise the university community to adopt the following preventive measures:
- Take note of the weather forecast. Wear warm clothing appropriately, including hats, scarves, gloves and socks according to the temperature;
- Consume sufficient food to ensure adequate calorie intake;
- Perform regular exercise to facilitate blood circulation and heat production;
- Stay in a warm environment and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure;
- Use heaters with care and maintain adequate indoor ventilation; and
- Seek medical advice if feeling unwell.
In addition to receiving influenza vaccination, you should keep hands clean, and maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to guard against influenza and other respiratory infections.
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