message from 2 doctors from Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University
of HK
Anthony TC Chan
Chairman and Chief of Service
Department of Clinical Oncology
Prince of Wales Hospital
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Tony Mok
Prince of Wales Hospital
Chinese University of Hong Kong
I AM at Prince of Wales every day, closely involved with all actions
and still in good shape. Let me clarify the subject matter:
1. There is no evidence that the infection is airborne. Only direct exposure to respiratory droplet has been related to infection.
2. The figure released from HA is definitely correct. Even stupid people should be able to distinguish between dead person and dying person. In fact, a couple of patients in ICU has improved and got better. Look like the dying patient won't die afterall.
3. A mask (N95) can definitely reduce the risk of infection, even viral infection. Imaging that we have to look after the 100 sick people with atypical pneumonia. If the mask is not effective, all of us will come down with the illness. The fact is that there is minimal number of new cases among medical staffs at Prince of Wales since we install the policy on mask.
4. The current treatment with ribavirin and steroid is definitely helping. Particularly if the patients receive treatment early, a good percentage showed good response and reduction in severity. Only when the patients presented very late, the treatment would be less effective.
5. Running nose is NOT a symptom of this illness.(another fact on his/her ignorance) However, you should definitely seek medical attention if you have severe headache, muscle ache and fever
Advice:
1. Wear a mask if you are in contact with anyone with symptoms. Also wear a mask if you are confined to a closed atmosphere with no control whom you are with.
2. See doctor when you have any of the symptoms.
3. Stop listening to those stupid rumors.
Tony Mok
Prince of Wales Hospital
Chinese University of Hong Kong
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A message from Medi Dept of CUHK:
Yes. There are many "rumours", "news stories". But most importantly,
the "facts" need to be disseminated properly:
1. There are likely to be infected people in the community (people who knowingly/unknowingly contacted patients when precautions were not taken). They should be identified as soon as possible and admitted to facilities with ability to treat them (ie major public hospitals). We have family members infected because people with clear symptoms stayed home.
2. The symptoms are fever, shiver, muscle aches, with fever NOT responding to antibiotics. Other respiratory symptoms are not specific.
3. N95 or surgical masks should be worn in high risk areas, like hospitals, when contacting patients(this is what we all do in public hospitals). Hands must be washed thoroughly after contacts.
4. The early cases in PWH are s erious since treatment was started late, but the later cases are mostly doing well. And now with the virus identified by our virologists in CUHK and more sensitive tests being developed and verified, there are discussions on the safe time for some treated patients to be discharged (please be assured that we will not discharge ANYONE until we are very confident that they are OK).
5. At this time there is NO evidence that ANY prophylactic drugs have any effect. I'm happy for you to send these messages to your friends, but I will
not be available to answer individual enquiries. They can call the government and HA hotlines.
Anthony TC Chan
Chairman and Chief of Service
Department of Clinical Oncology
Prince of Wales Hospital
Chinese University of Hong Kong
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message from 2 doctors from Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University
Posted - 27.03.2003 : 17:31:22
