59 Wuhan-related cases detected

January 5, 2020

Fifty-nine pneumonia cases have been detected in Wuhan, with no fatal cases recorded, the Centre for Health Protection said today after it received notification from the National Health Commission.

 

According to the commission’s information, all patients are receiving treatment in isolation, while 163 close contacts are under medical surveillance.

 

Epidemiological investigations revealed that some patients are business operators at a seafood market in Wuhan.

 

So far, no evidence of definite human-to-human transmission has been identified and no healthcare workers have been infected. 

 

While the causative pathogen and cause of infection are still under investigation, influenza viruses, avian influenza viruses and other respiratory pathogens such as adenovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have been ruled out as the cause.

 

According to the World Health Organization’s risk assessment, the pneumonia infections may be linked to exposure to animals.

 

Meanwhile, public hospitals, as of noon today and over the past 24 hours, admitted seven people who had been to Wuhan in the past 14 days, the Hospital Authority announced.

 

The patients presented symptoms of fever, respiratory infection or pneumonia.

 

The authority explained that the patients, four males and three females aged between two and 55, are in stable condition and are being treated in isolation at Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin and Tseung Kwan O hospitals.

 

The patients had not been to a wet market in Wuhan before their symptoms appeared.

 

The authority has sent specimens to the Department of Health for testing and will keep monitoring their conditions.

 

Public hospitals have reported 15 such cases to the department since December 31. Five of these patients have been discharged.

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