Kwai Chung Hospital Faces Bedbug Infestation; Immediate Pest Control Measures Implemented

Kwai Chung Hospital announces event of bed bugs found

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) made the following announcement today (September 17) regarding an event of bedbugs found in the hospital:

KCH received a report of itching skin from a male patient in a post admission care unit yesterday morning (September 16). Staff immediately conducted a physical examination of the patient, suspecting that the patient was bitten by bedbugs. Upon inspection, bedbugs were found on the patient's bed. Staff then inspected other areas and patients' linens in the ward, where bedbugs were found in a sealed heating facility and on nine other beds. Furthermore, three more male patients were suspected of being bitten by bedbugs.

KCH is extremely concerned about the event and has arranged for a professional pest control vendor to manage the bedbugs in the ward concerned yesterday. KCH has also informed the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to arrange for a pest control expert to inspect the ward concerned and provide pest control advice today.

KCH has provided appropriate treatment to the four patients concerned and has taken a series of measures to enhance patient protection and prevent the spread of bedbugs. The measures are:

KCH will conduct contact investigations and provide guidelines for the prevention and control of bedbugs to prevent the spreading of the insects. Additionally, the hospital will work with a professional pest control vendor to investigate the source of the bedbug infestation and implement proactive measures to prevent the breeding and spreading of bedbugs within the hospital.

To prevent further infestations, KCH will also implement a series of measures in other areas of the hospital, including enhancing inspections to check if bedbugs are present, arranging for professional vendors to carry out pest control and disinfestation measures, and stepping up cleaning in wards.

KCH will continue to closely monitor the situation and has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.

Source: AI-generated images

Hospital Authority appeals to public for baby requiring urgent heart transplant

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following appeal today (October 11) regarding the condition of a patient who requires urgent heart transplant.

A 3-month-old baby girl who requires urgent heart transplant is currently in critical condition at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital. In response to an urgent appeal from her parents, the HA appeals to members of the public to actively support organ donations and consider donating the heart of deceased relatives to give new life to others.

Given the critical condition of the patient, in addition to proactively searching for a suitable heart locally, the HA will also seek assistance from the Mainland through relevant procedures as soon as possible. When a patient willing to donate an organ has passed away and no suitable patient is identified on the Mainland, the cross-boundary organ donation and matching mechanism will facilitate a transplant in Hong Kong to bring hope to a critically ill patient.

The spokesperson emphasised that when a suitable heart is found, the HA will strictly follow the relevant organ transplant regulations and make an application with the authorities to ensure that all procedures comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements. The HA will arrange transplant operations with an aim to save the patient's life as soon as possible.

For critically ill patients with organ failure, an organ transplant is often the only hope for extending life. When deceased patients and their families make the selfless decision to donate organs for patients in need of organ transplantation, it not only gives critically ill patients the hope of life but also eases their families' hardships. The HA appeals to the public to extend their compassion, blessings, and care to those still fighting for their lives.