It turns out that Hong Kong’s first suspected case of ebola was a false alarm, with the patient in question testing negative. But nevertheless the local health authorities are boosting their surveillance and control measures for the disease. As a city with a SARS-shaped scar on our collective memories, we know that vigilance can’t hurt.
Yesterday Dr. Ko Wing Man, the health minister, held an emergency meeting with medical and public health experts to discuss Hong Kong’s plans if an outbreak does occur without the city, reports the SCMP. *Shudder*
Dr Dominic Tsang, the chairman of the committee on infection control for the Centre for Health Protection, said that public hospitals will be required to report any patient who develops fever after traveling to the three countries most affected by the outbreak: Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone. The patient will then be sent to the Communicable Disease Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital where they will be isolated, tested, and treated.
All doctors have also been sent letters explaining how to diagnose Ebola and reminding them that they should report any suspected cases.
According to Quartz, there are 39 airports that are only one flight away from the West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak, and Hong Kong is not one of them.
Since the outbreak erupted in March, there have been in 672 deaths and 1,201 cases of Ebola in the three affected countries.
Photo: Ebola virus virion (by Cynthia Goldsmith via Wikimedia)
