Breaking news: chp's investigation into severe pediatric influenza a case
âThe Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 27) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza. The CHP appealed to members of the public to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) in a timely manner to better protect themselves during the influenza season.
The case involves a 4-year-old girl with good past health. She developed a fever and sore throat since April 25. She was taken to the St Paul's Hospital on the next day for medical attention and was admitted on the same day. She was sent to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital today due to worsening of symptoms and was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital. Her respiratory specimen was positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy. She is now in critical condition.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had not received SIV for this season. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, members of the public are advised to receive SIV early for protection against seasonal influenza. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on theCHP's website.
A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
The public may visit the CHP'sCOVID-19 & Flu Expressfor more information.
Source: AI-generated images
New and improved code of practice for employment agencies: what you need to know
The Labour Department (LD) today (May 9) promulgated a revised Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP), superseding the CoP promulgated on February 9, 2018.
In accordance with the Employment Ordinance (EO), the Commissioner for Labour may issue codes of practice setting out the principles, procedures, guidelines and standards for the operation, management or control of employment agencies (EAs). In response to the concerns of the public about the services of EAs in recent years and the views collected during public consultation, the revised CoP introduces additional standards expected by the Commissioner that should be met by EAs.
"The newly introduced standards mainly include requiring EAs to, when making an application for a licence and renewal of a licence, inform the LD of whether they are associated with any financial institution; and stipulating that EAs should not provide job seekers with information relating to personal loans and should not withhold job seekers' employment contracts to force them to pay or repay any sum of money. To address the suspected abuse of premature termination of employment contracts by foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) seeking to change employers, the revised CoP requires EAs to clearly brief FDH job seekers on the relevant immigration regulations, and not to adopt business practices such as providing monetary incentives to FDHs in employ to induce them to prematurely terminate their employment contracts," a spokesman for the LD said.
"To further protect the interests of FDH employers as consumers, the revised CoP requires EAs to include, in service agreements signed with FDH employers, the amount of fee set for each service category, and clearly state whether a refund or arrangement for a replacement FDH will be provided where their services are not delivered in full, or the employment contract has been prematurely terminated by the FDH within the two-year contract period. Pursuant to the revised CoP, EAs are required to provide the LD with information relating to temporary accommodation provided for FDH job seekers and ensure their compliance with the relevant requirements. EAs also should not publicly post, display or disclose the sensitive personal data of job seekers and related individuals."
The spokesman reminded EAs of the need to operate in accordance with the requirements of the CoP. Under the EO, the Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew, or revoke an EA licence if its licensee or person intending to be the licensee, the related persons of, or persons employed by the licensee or the person intending to be the licensee fail(s) to comply with the CoP.
The CoP is available for public inspection for free during office hours at the office of the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD (Address: Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon). It may also be downloaded from the Employment Agencies Portal (www.eaa.labour.gov.hk).
For enquiries on the CoP, please contact the Employment Agencies Administration of the LD at 2115 3665.
Source: AI-generated images
