Chairman’s Announcement (29 December 2003)

Guangdong Department of Health has notified Hong Kong a suspected case of SARS in Panyu (番禺), Guangdong province (廣東省).  The patient is now being isolated in hospital pending confirmation by further laboratory tests.  Close contacts of the patient reportedly did not have fever.  The CU Campus (SARS) Task Force will keep track of the development and inform you with update information from time to time.

The current SARS Alert and action level at CU is being maintained.  Due vigilance in infection control measures are maintained at the UHS.  UHS will continue to operate its Special Purpose Residence and the Fever Clinic with attention to patients with fever and respiratory disease symptoms and recent travel history from Guangdong.  All patients and accompanying persons attending the clinic with fever or respiratory symptoms are encouraged to put on surgical masks.  The Infection Control measures now being undertaken at the clinic are adequate and effective.

For prevention of SARS and respiratory tract infection, please adopt the following measures:

-         Build up good body immunity by having a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;

-         Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;

-         Maintain good ventilation;

-         Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;

-         Consult a doctor promptly if you develop respiratory symptoms;

-         Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to people around them; and

-         Put on a mask if taking care of a patient with respiratory symptoms and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Chairman’s Announcement (19 December 2003)

In view of the occurrence of a SARS case in Taiwan, the Task Force has stepped up its alert action into the “Alert Level” of the CUHK Campus (SARS) Alert and Action Plan.  The existing mask policy, prevention guidelines and cleaning and disinfection guidelines have been reviewed and will continue to remain in force.  Staff and students are reminded to maintain their vigilance and observe good personal and environmental hygiene practices, such as: 

·           Frequent hand washing.

·           Consult a doctor if you feel unwell.

·           Wear a surgical mask when you suffer respiratory tract infection such as coughing or sneezing.

Chairman’s Announcement (17 December 2003)

Re: Taiwan confirms a SARS case

Department of Health reported today on 17 December 2003 that in Taiwan a SARS case is confirmed in a laboratory worker in the military service.  The confirmation was based on positive PCR tests on clinical samples.  The Taiwan authorities believe this is a laboratory acquired SARS infection.

The patient had worked with SARS virus in the laboratory.  He visited Singapore with 6 colleagues on Dec 6, and returned to Taiwan on Dec 10.  He developed fever that night together with respiratory symptoms.  He went to hospital on Dec 15 and was diagnosed to have SARS today. 

So far, this appears to be a single infection acquired from the laboratory in Taiwan.  However, the Department of Health is working under the assumption that further cases may occur, and thus prevention measures should work ahead of the scenario.

In accordance with the Checklist of Measures to Combat SARS, Department of Health has stepped into Alert level a) – laboratory confirmed SARS outside Hong Kong.   CUHK Campus (SARS) Task Force has also stepped up its alert action by entering into the “Alert Level” stage of its own Action Plan.  Please check the Task Force website for details of the action plan.  All concerned units including UHS are accordingly stepping up its preventive and control measures.

The Campus (SARS) Task Force and UHS will monitor the development in Taiwan and locally in Hong Kong.  You will be kept informed with update information regularly.

Chairman’s Announcement (10 December 2003)           

In order to be better prepared for the possible return of SARS, the Task Force has designed a CUHK Campus (SARS) Alert and Action Plan after intensive discussions.  The CUHK Plan outlines the measures to be taken by various units, offices and groups on campus at different stages of SARS outbreak.

This CUHK Plan follows the system produced by the Government (22 September 2003).  The Government has a 3-level response system which operates when there are SARS patients occurring locally or overseas.  The CUHK Plan, in addition to the 3-level of the Government system, also covers the situations when no clinical suspected or confirmed cases are identified as well as the condition when there are staff or students living/working on campus infected with SARS from any source.

The CUHK 5-stage SARS response system is as follows:

* Alert Level, Level 1 and Level 2 correspond with the 3-level response system announced by the Government

Please note that we are currently at the General Preparedness & Vigilance Level.  For any changes, the Campus (SARS) web page will broadcast the alert level, the measures to be taken and other details. 

Please refer to (http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/sars/alert_action/all_alert_plan/all_alert_plan.htm) for details of the CUHK Plan.  The Task Force will continue to monitor closely the development of SARS and review the measures to be taken.