Hong Kong investigates ‘suspected’ MERS coronavirus case in tourist
Hong Kong health officials announced today that they received notification of a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).
The patient is a 67-year-old tourist who arrived in Hong Kong from Qatar alone on December 17. It is noted that the patient, who has underlying medical conditions, presented with cough and runny nose since December 14. He consulted a private doctor today and was subsequently transferred to PMH for further management under isolation.
He is currently in stable condition.
Respiratory samples were collected on the man for testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. Results of the tests are pending.
The investigation into the case reveals that the patient had no contact with animals nor patients in Qatar.
To date, there has been no cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus reported from Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for the CHP said, “We would like to reassure the public that the Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information on cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. 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.”
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[…] a follow-up to a story yesterday about a tourist in Hong Kong hospitalized with “suspected Middle East Respiratory Syndrome […]
[…] Hong Kong investigates 'suspected' MERS coronavirus case in tourist The patient is a 67-year-old tourist who arrived in Hong Kong from Qatar alone on December 17. It is noted that the patient, who has underlying medical conditions, presented with cough and runny nose since December 14. He consulted a private doctor … Read more on The Global Dispatch […]
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