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Elizabeth Cheung

The outbreak of a mysterious viral pneumonia in Wuhan, a central Chinese city, has become the latest challenge for the health authorities in mainland China.
In Hong Kong it put the city on alert as it brought back painful memories of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic 17 years ago, which claimed the lives of 299 people.
This time around, dozens of suspected cases have been reported by health authorities.
On Thursday morning, mainland experts said they believed a new coronavirus strain from the same family that caused Sars was behind the disease, but more information was needed.


What happened in Wuhan and what is the latest situation?
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission first revealed to the public on December 31 that there were 27 pneumonia cases in the city related to the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, with the first patient falling ill on December 12. Those patients showed symptoms of fever, with a few having difficulty breathing.
In less than a week, the reported number of confirmed cases in Wuhan rose to 59, including seven serious cases. All patients were placed in isolation for treatment but there have been no deaths. So far 163 people who were close contacts of the confirmed cases in Wuhan have also been placed under medical surveillance.
At least eight patients have recovered and were discharged on Wednesday, according to the Wuhan authorities.
Mainland authorities said no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease had been identified.
China pneumonia outbreak raises spectre of Sars as number infected jumps to 44
The seafood market in question, which was also found to sell game meat, has been closed since January 1 for disinfection.
On Thursday, those investigating the outbreak said they had found a new strain of coronavirus and had identified its whole genome sequence. Fifteen patients tested positive for the new coronavirus.
There are six coronaviruses that can infect humans. Four of them can cause mild to moderate respiratory illness, such as the common cold. Another two can cause Sars or Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).
Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert from Chinese University, said the disease appeared to be less serious when compared with Sars.
“Sars patients on average had to stay in hospital for three weeks. They usually deteriorated in the second week, and 50 per cent of them needed supplemental oxygen, and a quarter of them needed to be sent to the intensive care unit,” Hui said. “But the condition this time appears to be milder.”

Have we seen any cases in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has not yet recorded a serious pneumonia case related to the Wuhan outbreak. Since the increase in surveillance on December 31, Hong Kong has reported 38 suspected cases, and 21 patients have already been discharged.
All those involved in the suspected cases, aged between two and 65, had recently returned from Wuhan, and presented with either symptoms of fever and respiratory infection, or pneumonia.
Why does Hong Kong look vulnerable in this outbreak?
With the frequent contact between people from Hong Kong and mainland China, there remains a risk that an infectious disease could quickly spread across the border.
Apart from the 11 flights going from Wuhan to Hong Kong every week, the ties were further strengthened after the cross-border high-speed rail opened in September 2018.
Wuhan is one of the 58 mainland destinations with direct high-speed trains to Hong Kong. Every day, there are two trains from northern China that stop in Wuhan before they reach Hong Kong, and another two travel in the opposite direction.
There was also a question over whether the already crowded public hospitals could prevent the disease, as more suspected cases are admitted.
Before the city officially entered the influenza season on Thursday, medical wards in many public hospitals have already been flooded with patients, and occupancy rates are at maximum.
The public should wear disposable surgical masks in crowded places. They should also clean their hands frequently
Dr Ho Pak-leung, University of Hong Kong
What has been done in Hong Kong in response to the outbreak? Are those measures sufficient?
With the experience of handling bird flu in 1997 and Sars in 2003, Hong Kong is no stranger to battling epidemics.
Sars infected 1,755 people and killed 299, including doctors and health workers. During the outbreak, residents living in one block of Amoy Garden in Kowloon were placed in quarantine.
In response to the Wuhan outbreak, the Hong Kong government launched a new mechanism last Saturday to prevent the infectious disease, and set it at a “serious” level, the second in a three-tier scale, beginning with an alert and ending with an emergency declared at its peak.
The Hong Kong authorities have also included the pneumonia in Wuhan, referred to as “severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent”, as a statutorily notifiable disease. That came into effect on Wednesday when the government gazetted an amendment to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance.
Under the law, people suspected of carrying the disease who refuse treatment can be fined up to HK$5,000 and jailed for six months.
The Hospital Authority also said it would be able to increase the amount of isolation beds in public hospitals from its present total of 480, to 1,400 in 72 hours if necessary.
Hui said the government had responded quicker compared with Sars.
“The action this time is quicker and has taken one more step forward,” he said.

What can you do to protect yourself from the unidentified disease?
Dr Ho Pak-leung, from the University of Hong Kong, said the new coronavirus was believed to be spread through droplets.
“The public should wear disposable surgical masks in crowded places,” Ho said. “They should also clean their hands frequently.”
He added it was important to take note of good toilet hygiene, as according to past experiences in Sars and Mers, infected patients’ urine and faeces could carry lots of coronaviruses that could be spread to others.
“When using public toilets … use alcohol and tissue to clean the toilet seat before sitting on it, and close the seat cover ahead of flushing,” he said.
The Centre for Health Protection also reminded the public to avoid visiting wet markets when abroad and touching animals, and not to consume game meat.


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Coronavirus pandemic

Wuhan pneumonia: what we know about the new virus and how you can stop yourself getting sick

The public is being urged to take precautions against the spread of a new unidentified strain of pneumonia. Photo: Winson Wong

Staff and passengers at the West Kowloon High-Speed Railway Station wear masks in a precaution against the virus outbreak from Wuhan, China. A notice from the health department in Hong Kong asked people travelling from Wuhan to report if they had fever or respiratory symptoms up to 14 days before the outbreak of unidentified form of pneumonia. 07JAN20 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

A security guard is pictured outside the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Whole Sale Market in Wuhan city, central China's Hubei province, on Jan. 04, 2020. Unexplained pneumonia cases broke out from the the market in the city since the end of 2019, and up to Friday, Jan. 3, 44 patients were received and 11 in critical condition. 04JAN20 SCMP/Simon Song

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment


Mainland Chinese experts have identified strain as being from same family as Sars, which killed nearly 300 people
Hong Kong has been on high alert but new disease appears far milder than feared



Mainland Chinese experts have identified strain as being from same family as Sars, which killed nearly 300 people, and while Hong Kong has been on high alert new disease appears far milder than feared.


Disease

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Wuhan pneumonia: what we know about the new virus and how you can stop yourself getting sick

Mainland Chinese experts have identified strain as being from same family as Sars, which killed nearly 300 people Hong Kong has been on high alert but new disease appears far milder than feared

Mainland Chinese experts have identified strain as being from same family as Sars, which killed nearly 300 people

Hong Kong has been on high alert but new disease appears far milder than feared