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GENEVA
-- Since mid
February, WHO has been actively working to confirm reports of
outbreaks of a severe form of pneumonia in Viet Nam, Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (SAR), China, and Guangdong
province in China.
In Viet Nam the
outbreak began with a single initial case who was hospitalized
for treatment of severe, acute respiratory syndrome of unknown
origin. He felt unwell during his journey and fell ill shortly
after arrival in Hanoi from Shanghai and Hong Kong SAR, China.
Following his admission to the hospital, approximately 20
hospital staff became sick with similar symptoms.
The signs and
symptoms of the disease in Hanoi include initial flu-like
illness (rapid onset of high fever followed by muscle aches,
headache and sore throat). These are the most common symptoms.
Early laboratory findings may include thrombocytopenia (low
platelet count) and leucopenia (low white blood cell count).
In some, but not all cases, this is followed by bilateral
pneumonia, in some cases progressing to acute respiratory
distress requiring assisted breathing on a respirator. Some
patients are recovering but some patients remain critically
ill.
Today, the
Department of Health Hong Kong SAR has reported on an outbreak
of respiratory illness in one of its public hospitals. As of
midnight 11 March, 50 health care workers had been screened
and 23 of them were found to have febrile illness. They were
admitted to the hospital for observation as a precautionary
measure. In this group, eight have developed early chest x-ray
signs of pneumonia. Their conditions are stable. Three other
health care workers self-presented to hospitals with febrile
illness and two of them have chest x-ray signs of pneumonia.
Investigation by
Hong Kong SAR public health authorities is on-going. The
Hospital Authority has increased infection control measures to
prevent the spread of the disease in the hospital. So far, no
link has been found between these cases and the outbreak in
Hanoi.
In mid February,
the Government of China reported that 305 cases of atypical
pneumonia, with five deaths, had occurred in Guangdong
province. In two cases that died, chlamydia infection was
found. Further investigations of the cause of the outbreak is
ongoing. Overall the outbreaks in Hanoi and Hong Kong SAR
appear to be confined to the hospital environment. Those at
highest risk appear to be staff caring for the patients.
No link has so far
been made between these outbreaks of acute respiratory illness
in Hanoi and Hong Kong and the outbreak of `bird flu,` A(H5N1)
in Hong Kong SAR reported on 19 February. Further
investigations continue and laboratory tests on specimens from
Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR are being studied by WHO
collaborating centres in Japan and the United States.
Until more is
known about the cause of these outbreaks, WHO recommends
patients with atypical pneumonia who may be related to these
outbreaks be isolated with barrier nursing techniques. At the
same time, WHO recommends that any suspect cases be reported
to national health authorities.
WHO is in close
contact with relevant national authorities and has also
offered epidemiological, laboratory and clinical support. WHO
is working with national authorities to ensure appropriate
investigation, reporting and containment of these outbreaks.
For
more information contact:
Dick Thompson - Communication Officer
Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication
WHO, Geneva
Telephone: (+41 22) 791 26 84
Email:
or visit www.who.int
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