Prince of Wales Hospital chickenpox cases
*****************************************

Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) spokesperson today (April 27) made the following announcement:

     A 28-month boy was admitted to a pediatric ward of PWH on April 12, who was later confirmed with chickenpox on April 13.  The patient was discharged on April 13 and recovered.

     The hospital had provided appropriate post exposure preventive therapy and isolation care for the child patients in the ward concerned; and infection control measures have also been implemented. The hospital followed the standard procedure and carried out contact tracing on patients and healthcare workers of the ward.

     Two child patients (1 male and 1 female, aged 5 and 13 months old) under isolation subsequently developed symptoms compatible with chickenpox on April 24 and 26 respectively.  The two patients are now under isolation and their conditions are stable.

     PWH has undertaken medical surveillance for all the patients in the ward. Relevant health information was provided to the parents. Visiting policy to the ward concerned remains normal.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority and the Centre for Health Protection.

Ends/Friday, April 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:22

NNNN