Press Releases

Prompt and proactive actions being taken in Lek Yuen Estate

A Government spokesman reassured today (May 23) that prompt and proactive actions have been taken in Wing Shui House of Lek Yuen Estate to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) following the confirmation of a new SARS case there yesterday.

On May 22, a female resident on the fourth floor of Wing Shui House was confirmed to have been infected by SARS. In the same afternoon, the Government's multi-disciplinary response team promptly initiated an investigation into the probable causes, and mapped out the appropriate protective measures and actions, the spokesman said.

"This is the team's second investigation into the Estate," he said.

The first investigation was conducted between May 7 and 9 after a suspicious clustering of cases was noted but there was no evidence suggesting that the disease had been transmitted in the Estate by environmental factors.

The spokesman explained the measures and actions being taken by the Team in Lek Yuen Estate include: -

* For 10 days starting from May 22, the Department of Health has been conducting daily health surveillance for all residents in the fourth floor of Wing Shui House.

* Between May 22 and 23, a large scale cleansing and disinfecting operation is being carried out in all common parts of Lek Yuen Estate, including the shopping centre, market and other facilities within the Estate's boundary. Such cleansing and disinfecting exercises will be conducted regularly in the future.

* An inspection of Wing Shui House's drainage system had been conducted. The floor drains of all the households were found functioning and the U-traps were filled with water.

* Twice daily, the Housing Department has been adding bleaching solution (at a dosage of 1:99) to the rooftop flushing water tanks to disinfect the drainage system.

* The Housing Department and Drainage Services Department will again flush and disinfect the underground sewage system in the vicinity of Lek Yuen Estate this afternoon.

* A pest survey on all households of Wing Shui House and the vicinity of the building was carried out by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Effort in pest control has also been stepped up within the Estate by applying pesticides to the potential harbourage places for cockroaches and rodents.

* The Housing Department has posted up notice to inform residents of Wing Shui House of the latest situation in the building's lift lobby. In addition, health advice pamphlets to alert residents of the need to maintain satisfactory hygienic conditions and carry out cleansing and disinfection in their own units were also distributed to each household.

* Environmental and other swabs have been collected for further laboratory testing.

"To date, there is no evidence to suggest that there are any environmental factors involved and it was very likely that person-to-person transmission had occurred.

"Nevertheless, the Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate actions to protect the health of the residents," the spokesman said.

End/Friday, May 23, 2003
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