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Experts probe mystery virus
13/03/2003 09:39 - (SA)
Hong Kong - An American businessman died on Thursday of a mystery flu-like illness in Hong Kong as World Health Organisation (WHO) experts began an investigation into an outbreak that has struck at least 50 hospital staff.
The man had been transferred to Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital from the private Hanoi French Hospital in Vietnam, which was forced to close after 16 members of staff were also infected with the unknown illness.
His death came as experts from the World Health Organisation began examining tissue samples from an outbreak of flu which has hit staff at Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital in the New Territories.
Of those who showed symptoms, 26 were admitted to hospital with 16 showing signs of pneumonia. One is described as being in a critical condition.
Other hospitals in the territory have also reported a number of cases of flu among staff members.
The outbreak is the latest in a series of health scares involving influenza to hit Hong Kong in recent weeks.
Last month, a father and his eight-year-old son were found to ave contracted a strain of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which killed eight people in Hong Kong in 1997. The boy recovered, but the father died of pneumonia.
Just days before, an outbreak of pneumonia caused panic in Guangdong, southern China, and parts of Hong Kong after more than 30 people were infected and at least five died.
A spokesperson from Hong Kong's department of health said initial tests showed the new cases of pneumonia were not linked to the H5N1 bird flu virus.
However, he said it is too early to say whether there is a link between the cases in Guangdong, China and Hanoi, Vietnam.
Officials at the Prince of Wales Hospital said staff from the medical ward 8A first developed cold symptoms, fever and upper respiratory tract infections last weekend. It has since spread to staff in neighbouring ward 8B.
The wards involved have been quarantined with visitors being asked to wear masks and wash hands before entering. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA
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