Common cold virus found in school

Tests conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Centre under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health on nasal specimens collected from three students of Caritas Lok Yan School today (January 27) all yielded positive for Rhinovirus, a common cold virus.

This showed that the students who had earlier shown symptoms of influenza-like-illness were suffering from upper respiratory tract infection.

Rhinovirus is one of the common viruses causing common cold. Symptoms are mild, which may include runny nose, sneezing and throat irritation, with or without fever. The incubation period ranges from 12 hours to 5 days, usually around 2 days. The illness lasts for two to seven days.

The three students (2 boys and 1 girl aged from 8 to 15) developed symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat between January 19 and 25. Another student, a 14-year-old boy, also developed similar symptoms on January 26. All of them are in stable condition.

The four staff of the School who have had fever and mild upper respiratory symptoms, are on sick leave. None of them required hospitalization.
The CHP is liaising closely with the Hospital Authority in monitoring the situation.


Ends/Thursday, January 27, 2005