Beijing, Mar 29: The government and people of Hong Kong today launched a two-day thorough cleansing in the major Asian metropolis, which is fighting its most serious contagious disease threat in 50 years. This follows the spread of atypical pneumonia which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified as Serious Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which has caused upto 11 deaths in Hong Kong.
A total of 425 people with atypical pneumonia symptoms had been admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong by yesterday noon, according to latest government statistics. Forty-five of the 425 patients are receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
The 58 additional patients reported yesterday include four healthcare workers and 34 patients from Amoy Garden, a residential area in Kowloon district. The remaining 20 were new patients and contacts of patients.
All air travellers arriving in Hong Kong are required to complete a health declaration as of today afternoon.
The arrangements have been made at the airport, ferry terminals and land check points to collect the health declaration forms.
The food and environmental hygiene department and its cleansing contractors have deployed a total of 22 additional street cleansing vehicles to step up street cleansing at downtown areas with high pedestrian flow, Xinhua news agency reported from Hong Kong. Bureau Report