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  influenza A H5N1 a tale of two cities 135 As the authors noted Hong Kong and Shanghai are located along the avian migratory route at the Pearl River delta


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  Final Report Planning Department Final Year Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies Students Department of Architecture University of Hong Kong Planning


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  Toronto World Health Organization Working Group on Prevention of International and Community Transmission of SARS Public


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  State Trait Anxiety Inventory A Test Manual Test Form Center for Health Protection Hong Kong Government


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  inter dependence between medicines and ethics 2 acquire bioethics knowledge and language 3 recognise vital ethical issues


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  Holland Village Building a Competitive Pearl River Delta Region Cooperation Coordination and Planning


id: cord-274306-cxvnv8dy
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entity:
  Le virus n avait pas diffusé plus avant dans la population de Hong Kong justement du fait qu il n y avait pas eu de réassortiment avec les souches humaines Mais pourquoi le virus H5N1


id: cord-311026-mpr3xb2a
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  The Government of the Republic of Korea Tackling COVID 19 Health Quarantine and Economic Measures Korean Experience Response to COVID 19


id: cord-288219-bwsw9nlr
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  the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee


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entity:
  the Research Fund Secretariat Food and Health Bureau the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region


id: cord-293858-dk4snw9r
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  Hong Kong Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Department of Health of the Australian Government


id: cord-309268-sig0h723
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  Seasonal Influenza Flu Specific Groups People at High Risk ofDeveloping Flu Related Complications Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases Recommendations on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination for the Seasonal


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  VENICE II Consortium Department of Health Evaluation of the Publicity of Human Swine Influenza Vaccination Programme Development


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  PS2 β 0 156 95 CI 0 18 to 0 12 p 0 001 WT β 0 21 95 CI 0 16 to 0 31 p 0 001 and ER β 0 16 95 CI 0 14 to 0 2 p 0


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entity:
  ER β 0 17 95 CI 0 19 to 0 13 p 0 001 The Hong Kong students exhibited significantly higher PT p 0 001 and PS1 scores p 0 001 but a lower PS2 score p 0 05 than their Fujian counterparts The Fujian students had a significantly higher ER score


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  chronic diseases hypertension cardiac diseases diabetes respiratory diseases kidney diseases liver diseases


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  human and humanto human H5N1 transmission 70 5 and 74 4 respectively Table 3 Perceived permanent physical damage and perceived similarity between symptoms of human avian influenza and SARS


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  the Disease Prevention and Control Division Regional Offices Elderly Health Service and Public Health Nursing Division


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  Model Client Brief for Small Households Developments Hong Kong Housing Authority Hong Kong Housing Authority


id: cord-338054-n2r4pzan
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  protective behaviors Table 2 The majority of the respondents believed that various groups of people would be highly susceptible to the virus Of the respondents 26 8 believed themselves and 33 6 believed their family members or the general public


id: cord-342989-9ie8mx4l
type: ORG
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  China Staff Mental Health Self Assessment During the COVID 19 Outbreak East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2020 Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers


id: cord-342989-9ie8mx4l
type: ORG
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  Influenza Other Respir Viruses Health Care Workers Risk Perceptions and Willingness to Report for Work During


id: cord-327819-7p05jk1h
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  influenza A H5N1 Thailand World Health Organization International Avian Influenza Investigative Team Avian influenza A H5N1


id: cord-325722-ixozph19
type: LAW
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  Budget The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People s Republic of China


id: cord-325722-ixozph19
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  Taiwan Principles of Microeconomics South Western Cengage Learning Special Topic Enquiry on Earnings Mobility School of Economics and Finance Social Mobility


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  The International Socialization of the New Southbound Policy A Taiwanese Vision for a Free and Open Indo Pacific Region


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  the Social Welfare Department the Immigration Department the Civil Aid Service the Auxiliary Medical Service


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  World Health Organization International Health Regulations European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Facts


id: cord-331835-nuhrd92z
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  Administrative Region HKSAR Government Preventing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS Guidelines for Hotels Guidelines


id: cord-350031-2c9x55hx
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  China Using Information and Communication Technologies for Family Communication and Its Association with Family


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  Biom J DOI 10 1002 bimj 200710431 sha e83b228bac39670fef9af8d9142b4290b7de4262 doc_id 348636 cord_uid qqcb85uk


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  Mongolian pandemic isolates 3 gene segments I PB2 2 gene segments II PB1 3 gene segments III PA 9 gene segments IV HA 3 gene segments V NP 4 gene segments VI NA 7 gene segments VII M and 3 gene segments


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id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
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  TAT 600 nm MUS_TLR4R AGGCCCCAGAGTTTTGTTC T 900 nm MUS_TLR5F CTGGGGACCCAGTATGCTAA 600 nm MUS_TLR5R ACAGCCGAAGTTCCAAGAGA 900 nm MUS_TLR7F GGAGCTCTGTCCTTGAGTGG 900 nm MUS_TLR7R CAAGGCATGTCCTAGGTGGT 600


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  NF kappaB nuclear factor kappaB TNFa tumor necrosis factor alpha TGFb transforming growth factor beta HO 1 heme oxygenase 1


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: PROTEIN
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  Janus kinase signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathways 3 10 11 12 The in vivo experiments presented here showed that NF jB and AP 1 inhibitors


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: GGP
entity:
  Space 7 SVT 5 CF 9 BellKor 10 PF 11 and FWLS 12 Eventually the team BellKor s Pragmatic Chaos won this contest Their methods combines nonlinear probe blending


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  World Health Organization WHO Influenza Collaboration Centers Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines For Terrestrial Animals Mammals Birds and Bees An avian influenza virus


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  New Pharmaceutical Substances Moscow Ministry of Public Health Department of Quality Effectiveness and Safety


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  USSR Ministry of Health Planning and Performance of Clinical Study of Medicines Federal Pharmaceutical Substances


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: GPE
entity:
  the Republic of Kazakhstan National Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan Planning and Performance of Clinical Study of Medicines Federal


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  a State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Science Sports and Culture of Japan


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: ORG
entity:
  the Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology Japan Takeda Science Foundation Terumo Life Science Foundation


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H1N1 hemagglutinins 5 The recombinant protein was used as the antigen attached through histidine


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H1N1 2009 Specificity and clinical sensitivity of the two one step RT PCRs Fast Set InfA InfB


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H3N2 vaccinations 76 of which were given to adults over 55 years of age Consequently vaccine administration


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  H5N1 infected primary human macrophages and that it played a regulatory role in the H5N1hyperinduced host pro inflammatory responses 1


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A viral genotypes system 13 The work presented here is one of the first steps towards the development of a nomenclature system for influenza A virus lineages


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H1N1 pandemic 2009 positive by real time PCR Detection of influenza virus in respiratory samples was much lower with the ResPlex II


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A virus NS1 protein A NS1 Figure 2A The splicing of influenza A virus M gene specific mRNA was also increased by co expression with C NS1 though it was inhibited by co expression with A NS1 Figure 2B


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H3N2 viruses isolated worldwide from 1994 to 2005 a cause for concern Surveillance of resistance to adamantanes


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H1N1 virus in the United States Isolation of oseltamivirresistant influenza A H1N1 virus of different origins


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A H1N1 virus and its age specificity in Japan The transmissibility and control of pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus Effect of clinical and virological parameters on the level of neutralizing antibody against pandemic influenza A virus H1N1


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
type: DISEASE
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  influenza A H5N1 viruses in primary human alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells Differential onset of apoptosis


# url

id: cord-337546-60xq8dpg
domain: thediplomat.com
url:
  http://thediplomat.com/2020/02/taiwans-coronavirus-response-hits-obstacles-set-bychinese-government/


# bib

id: cord-000266-xwfptmmv
author: Liao, Qiuyan
date: 2010-10-12
txt: ./txt/cord-000266-xwfptmmv.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-000266-xwfptmmv.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2953514/
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013350
summary:
  METHODOLOGY: Data from cross-sectional telephone interviews of 1,001 Hong Kong adults in June, 2009 were tested against theory and data-derived hypothesized associations between trust in (formal/informal) information, understanding, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and worry, and hand hygiene and social distancing using Structural Equation Modelling with multigroup comparisons. We report on a theoretical model that incorporated elements of influenza causal knowledge, perceived self-efficacy and also social and affective influences ( Figure 1 ) because these latter variables have been less frequently studied in combination, but have theoretical and logical support for their potential importance in the context of RIDs. We tested this model against data collected in the early phase of the influenza A/H1N1 pandemic (Table S1 ) to examine how levels of trust in formal and informal sources of risk/prevention information associated with hand washing and social distancing.

title:
  Situational Awareness and Health Protective Responses to Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Whether information sources influence health protective behaviours during influenza pandemics or other emerging infectious disease epidemics is uncertain. METHODOLOGY: Data from cross-sectional telephone interviews of 1,001 Hong Kong adults in June, 2009 were tested against theory and data-derived hypothesized associations between trust in (formal/informal) information, understanding, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility and worry, and hand hygiene and social distancing using Structural Equation Modelling with multigroup comparisons. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Trust in formal (government/media) information about influenza was associated with greater reported understanding of A/H1N1 cause (β = 0.36) and A/H1N1 prevention self-efficacy (β = 0.25), which in turn were associated with more hand hygiene (β = 0.19 and β = 0.23, respectively). Trust in informal (interpersonal) information was negatively associated with perceived personal A/H1N1 susceptibility (β = −0.21), which was negatively associated with perceived self-efficacy (β = −0.42) but positively associated with influenza worry (β = 0.44). Trust in informal information was positively associated with influenza worry (β = 0.16) which was in turn associated with greater social distancing (β = 0.36). Multigroup comparisons showed gender differences regarding paths from trust in formal information to understanding of A/H1N1 cause, trust in informal information to understanding of A/H1N1 cause, and understanding of A/H1N1 cause to perceived self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Trust in government/media information was more strongly associated with greater self-efficacy and handwashing, whereas trust in informal information was strongly associated with perceived health threat and avoidance behaviour. Risk communication should consider the effect of gender differences.


id: cord-000280-zyaj90nh
author: Wong, Samuel YS
date: 2010-10-29
txt: ./txt/cord-000280-zyaj90nh.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-000280-zyaj90nh.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2988052/
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-316
summary:
  CONCLUSIONS: Similar to previous findings conducted in hospital healthcare workers and nurses, we confirmed that the willingness of community nurses to accept influenza A (H1N1) vaccination is low. In a study conducted of Hong Kong healthcare workers in hospitals, it was found that only 25% of nurses were willing to accept influenza A (H1N1) vaccination, compared with 47% of doctors and 29% of allied professionals [13] . Consistent with findings from previous surveys conducted in hospital healthcare workers and nurses [13, 17] , we have shown that the majority of nurses from community nursing services in Hong Kong were not willing to be vaccinated against H1N1 influenza when the vaccine becomes available. Consistent with previous findings which were conducted in healthcare workers and nurses [13, 17] , we confirm that the acceptance rate of pandemic influenza vaccination is low amongst community nurses.

title:
  Willingness to accept H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine: A cross-sectional study of Hong Kong community nurses

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: The 2009 pandemic of influenza A (H1N1) infection has alerted many governments to make preparedness plan to control the spread of influenza A (H1N1) infection. Vaccination for influenza is one of the most important primary preventative measures to reduce the disease burden. Our study aims to assess the willingness of nurses who work for the community nursing service (CNS) in Hong Kong on their acceptance of influenza A (H1N1) influenza vaccination. METHODS: 401 questionnaires were posted from June 24, 2009 to June 30, 2009 to community nurses with 67% response rate. Results of the 267 respondents on their willingness to accept influenza A (H1N1) vaccine were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven percent of respondents were willing to accept influenza vaccination if vaccines were available. Having been vaccinated for seasonable influenza in the previous 12 months were significantly independently associated with their willingness to accept influenza A (H1N1) vaccination (OR = 4.03; 95% CI: 2.03-7.98). CONCLUSIONS: Similar to previous findings conducted in hospital healthcare workers and nurses, we confirmed that the willingness of community nurses to accept influenza A (H1N1) vaccination is low. Future studies that evaluate interventions to address nurses' specific concerns or interventions that aim to raise the awareness among nurses on the importance of influenza A (H1N1) vaccination to protect vulnerable patient populations is needed.


id: cord-000336-57es391o
author: Liao, Qiuyan
date: 2011-03-11
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3055876/
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017713
title:
  Factors Affecting Intention to Receive and Self-Reported Receipt of 2009 Pandemic (H1N1) Vaccine in Hong Kong: A Longitudinal Study

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Vaccination was a core component for mitigating the 2009 influenza pandemic (pH1N1). However, a vaccination program's efficacy largely depends on population compliance. We examined general population decision-making for pH1N1 vaccination using a modified Theory of Planned Behaviour (TBP). METHODOLOGY: We conducted a longitudinal study, collecting data before and after the introduction of pH1N1 vaccine in Hong Kong. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tested if a modified TPB had explanatory utility for vaccine uptake among adults. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Among 896 subjects who completed both the baseline and the follow-up surveys, 7% (67/896) reported being “likely/very likely/certain” to be vaccinated (intent) but two months later only 0.8% (7/896) reported having received pH1N1 vaccination. Perception of low risk from pH1N1 (60%) and concerns regarding adverse effects of the vaccine (37%) were primary justifications for avoiding pH1N1 vaccination. Greater perceived vaccine benefits (β = 0.15), less concerns regarding vaccine side-effects (β = −0.20), greater adherence to social norms of vaccination (β = 0.39), anticipated higher regret if not vaccinated (β = 0.47), perceived higher self-efficacy for vaccination (β = 0.12) and history of seasonal influenza vaccination (β = 0.12) were associated with higher intention to receive the pH1N1 vaccine, which in turn predicted self-reported vaccination uptake (β = 0.30). Social norm (β = 0.70), anticipated regret (β = 0.19) and vaccination intention (β = 0.31) were positively associated with, and accounted for 70% of variance in vaccination planning, which, in turn subsequently predicted self-reported vaccination uptake (β = 0.36) accounting for 36% of variance in reported vaccination behaviour. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Perceived low risk from pH1N1 and perceived high risk from pH1N1 vaccine inhibited pH1N1 vaccine uptake. Both the TPB and the additional components contributed to intended vaccination uptake but social norms and anticipated regret predominantly associated with vaccination intention and planning. Vaccination planning is a more significant proximal determinant of uptake of pH1N1 vaccine than is intention. Intention alone is an unreliable predictor of future vaccine uptake.


id: cord-000617-8m7spnxj
title: Knowledge of Avian Influenza (H5N1) among Poultry Workers, Hong Kong, China
author: Kim, Jean H.
date: 2011-12-17
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311183/
doi: 10.3201/eid1712.110321
abstract:
  In 2009, a cross-sectional survey of 360 poultry workers in Hong Kong, China, showed that workers had inadequate levels of avian influenza (H5N1) risk knowledge, preventive behavior, and outbreak preparedness. The main barriers to preventive practices were low perceived benefits and interference with work. Poultry workers require occupation-specific health promotion.


id: cord-001521-l36f1gp7
title: Oral and Poster Manuscripts
author: nan
date: 2011-04-08
txt: ./txt/cord-001521-l36f1gp7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-001521-l36f1gp7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4313891/
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00209.x
abstract: nan
summary:
  The IC 50 values determined in functional NI assays provide valuable information for detection of resistant viruses, but should not be used to draw direct correlations with drug concentrations needed to inhibit virus replication in the infected human host, as clinical data to support such inferences are inadequate. • Standardized reagents and protocols • Choice of detection technology • Simple instrumentation requirements • High sensitivity for use with low virus concentrations • Compatibility with batch-mode processing and largescale assay throughput • Broad specificity of influenza detection • Flexibility in assay format • Additional NA assay applications -cell-based viral assays, screening for new NIs, detection of NA from other organisms Functional neuraminidase inhibition assays enable detection of any resistance mutation and are extremely important in conjunction with sequence-based screening assays for global monitoring of virus isolates for NI resistance mutations, including known and new mutations. Such new assays need to include methods to measure local antibodies and virus-specific lymphocytes, especially in the case of live attenuated influenza vaccines, because of their potential to induce such broad-based immune responses.


id: cord-003171-z22ekgtv
author: Babu, Tara M
date: 2018-10-01
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6107991/
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy291
title:
  Population Serologic Immunity to Human and Avian H2N2 Viruses in the United States and Hong Kong for Pandemic Risk Assessment

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Influenza A pandemics cause significant mortality and morbidity. H2N2 viruses have caused a prior pandemic, and are circulating in avian reservoirs. The age-related frequency of current population immunity to H2 viruses was evaluated. METHODS: Hemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) assays against historical human and recent avian influenza A(H2N2) viruses were performed across age groups in Rochester, New York, and Hong Kong, China. The impact of existing cross-reactive HAI immunity on the effective reproduction number was modeled. RESULTS: One hundred fifty individual sera from Rochester and 295 from Hong Kong were included. Eighty-five percent of patients born in Rochester and Hong Kong before 1968 had HAI titers ≥1:40 against A/Singapore/1/57, and >50% had titers ≥1:40 against A/Berkeley/1/68. The frequency of titers ≥1:40 to avian H2N2 A/mallard/England/727/06 and A/mallard/Netherlands/14/07 in subjects born before 1957 was 62% and 24%, respectively. There were no H2 HAI titers >1:40 in individuals born after 1968. These levels of seroprevalence reduce the initial reproduction number of A/Singapore/1/1957 or A/Berkeley/1/68 by 15%–20%. A basic reproduction number (R(0)) of the emerging transmissible virus <1.2 predicts a preventable pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Population immunity to H2 viruses is insufficient to block epidemic spread of H2 virus. An H2N2 pandemic would have lower impact in those born before 1968.


id: cord-016160-ugc7ce21
title: Bird Flu, SARS and Beyond
author: Ching, Frank
date: 2018-03-15
txt: ./txt/cord-016160-ugc7ce21.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-016160-ugc7ce21.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120366/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-6316-9_14
summary:
  At the end of 2002, unknown to anyone in Hong Kong, another deadly virus was circulating in neighboring Guangdong Province, propagating a disease that had no name but which was preliminarily dubbed atypical pneumonia in China and later renamed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, by the World Health Organization. And now it''s been identified by all the other laboratories." 76 Also, just as Hong Kong University publicized its breakthrough before the CDC''s announcement, so the university was able to get its scientific discovery into print first, with the publication of a paper in the online Lancet on April 8, 2003, "Coronavirus as a possible cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome." The success was very much the result of a group effort, as the list of authors shows, with Malik Peiris as the lead writer, K.Y. Yuen as the last writer and others, including Guan Yi, Leo Poon, John Nicholls and K.H. Chan, in between.

abstract:
  In the politically sensitive year of 1997, Hong Kong experienced an outbreak of avian flu when the deadly H5N1 virus unprecedentedly jumped the species barrier from chickens and infected human beings. Hong Kong decided to slaughter over a million chickens, and the virus was stopped in its tracks. In 2003, Hong Kong was the epicenter of the SARS pandemic, which originated in Guangdong province. The Faculty of Medicine played key roles in both instances, with its Microbiology Department successfully identifying a novel coronavirus as being responsible for SARS. Hong Kong learned from its experience and took action to combat the emergence of new infectious diseases. Such vigilance paid off in 2009, when swine flu swept the world, and in 2013, when a novel avian flu H7N9 emerged in China.


id: cord-016551-5vwgg8e6
title: Construction and Building Applications
author: Anis, Mohab
date: 2016-12-09
txt: ./txt/cord-016551-5vwgg8e6.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-016551-5vwgg8e6.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120882/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-44863-3_2
summary:
  This chapter shows how nanotechnology-based building materials are playing an important role in green architectural design and construction, which has become a growing trend in many countries. This leads to nanotechnology being rapidly adopted by the construction market in several aspects like coatings, insulation materials, and building materials (steel, cement, asphalt, glass, polymers, etc.). Nanomaterials are currently employed in cements, steel, and even windows to render buildings greener, more cost effective and safer. Another application of nanotechnology in the market involves making Ultra Violet (UV) absorbing, self-cleaning, and depolluting coatings for windows. Although Bioni antimicrobial paints in hospitals are 25 % more cost effective because they decreased the frequent use of biocides, they are more expensive in residential buildings. The growing regulations on the building sector to save energy drive the growth for solar control window films, which is forecast to be an 863 million dollars market by 2018.

abstract:
  The construction industry is a particularly attractive industry for nanotechnology applications. Since it employs a diversity of building materials, nanomaterials can be employed to enhance the materials’ performances, durability, longevity and sustainability. The construction and building practice is detrimental to the environment in various aspects such as electricity consumption, landfill accumulation, unhealthy aesthetics and neighborhoods. This chapter shows how nanotechnology-based building materials are playing an important role in green architectural design and construction, which has become a growing trend in many countries. Nanomaterials could be integrated with cement, concrete, or windows to conserve energy, minimize electricity bills and sanitize the surrounding atmosphere. Nevertheless, the industry is still facing many hurdles towards the wide application of nanomaterials in a cost effective manner.


id: cord-017080-erbftqgh
title: Physical Environment of Tall Residential Buildings: The Case of Hong Kong
author: Lau, Stephen S.Y.
date: 2010-12-12
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7121554/
doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-9738-5_3
abstract:
  Increasing urban populations, scarcity of urban land, depletion in resources and severe impact of urban development on sustainability are critical contemporary issues. Such issues have vast implications on the desirability of compact, high-rise high-dense built forms. Yet, the environmental quality and social acceptance of these forms remain barely studied. This chapter reviews some of the critical environmental implications posed by the closely packed high-rise building and high urban densities.


id: cord-017995-azqjvxtu
title: Spatial Components in Disease Modelling
author: Kwong, Kim-hung
date: 2010
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7122710/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-12156-2_30
abstract:
  Modelling of infectious diseases could help gain further understanding of their diffusion processes that provide knowledge on the detection of epidemics and decision making for future infection control measures. Conventional disease transmission models are inadequate in considering the diverse nature of a society and its location-specific factors. A new approach incorporating stochastic and spatial factors is necessary to better reflect the situation. However, research on risk factors in disease diffusion is limited in numbers. This paper mapped the different phases of spatial diffusion of SARS in Hong Kong to explore the underlying spatial factors that may have interfered and contributed to the transmission patterns of SARS. Results of the current study provide important bases to inform relevant environmental attributes that could potentially improve the spatial modelling of an infectious disease.


id: cord-020769-elzkwyz0
title: The new normal: lessons learned from SARS for corporations operating in emerging markets
author: Day, Brennan
date: 2004-07-01
txt: ./txt/cord-020769-elzkwyz0.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-020769-elzkwyz0.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7147509/
doi: 10.1108/00251740410542357
summary:
  This paper uses the recent SARS epidemic as a background to highlight the importance of crisis planning, particularly in emerging economies, and suggests how organizations can address these concerns. This paper will start by presenting background information on the SARS epidemic and the impact on organizations, especially those operating in emerging markets. Since emerging markets are increasingly important to the world economy and are at the same time susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases, we need to understand how we are linked together on an interdependent global level. If just three of the Asian emerging economies -China, India, and Indonesia -are able to maintain this growth rate of 6 percent per year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has estimated that by 2010 approximately 700 million people in those countries will have an average income equivalent to that of Spain today.

abstract:
  The modern industrialized world was completely caught off guard by the recent SARS outbreak. Fortunately, for most organizations, the impact has been short lived, but management has been provided with a reminder of the impact of the external environment in a world of ever increasing globalization. As seen with the SARS outbreak, a lack of preparedness can have devastating effects on business and warrant inclusion in a business definition of a crisis. This paper uses the recent SARS epidemic as a background to highlight the importance of crisis planning, particularly in emerging economies, and suggests how organizations can address these concerns.


id: cord-021375-lca26xum
title: Riding the Shi: From Infection Barriers to the Microbial City
author: Voelkner, Nadine
date: 2019-08-23
txt: ./txt/cord-021375-lca26xum.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-021375-lca26xum.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7149467/
doi: 10.1093/ips/olz016
summary:
  Taking its cue from the currently accepted germ theory of disease, such mechanisms render a global city like Hong Kong not only pervasively "on alert" and under threat of unpredictable and pathogenic viruses and other microbes, it also gives rise to a hygiene and antimicrobial politics that is never entirely able to control pathogenic circulation. Considering recent advances in gene sequencing in microbiology, through which a "vast diversity of microbial life in, on and around the human body" (Lorimer 2017, 544) has been identified as residing in complex relationality with one another, how befitting is it to fight infectious diseases by indiscriminately eliminating microbes through the use of antimicrobials and practicing urban hygiene as in the case of Hong Kong? Various scholars have noted how, much like Hong Kong in the face of SARS, global public health programs adopt an antimicrobial stance to the control and/or elimination of infectious diseases, however, which might prove to be counterproductive in securing human life (Macphail 2014; Methot and Alizon 2014; Fishel 2015 Fishel , 2017 White 2015; Hinchliffe et al.

abstract:
  How can a microbial approach to global health security protect life? Contemporary infection control mechanisms set the human and the pathogenic microbe against each other, as the victim versus the menace. This biomedical polarization persistently runs through the contemporary dominant mode of thinking about public health and infectious disease governance. Taking its cue from the currently accepted germ theory of disease, such mechanisms render a global city like Hong Kong not only pervasively “on alert” and under threat of unpredictable and pathogenic viruses and other microbes, it also gives rise to a hygiene and antimicrobial politics that is never entirely able to control pathogenic circulation. The article draws on recent advances in medical microbiology, which depart from germ theory, to invoke an ecological understanding of the human-microbe relation. Here, while a small number of viruses are pathogenic, the majority are benign; some are even essential to human life. Disease is not just the outcome of a pathogenic microbe infecting a human host but emerges from socioeconomic relations, which exacerbate human-animal-microbial interactions. In a final step, the article draws on Daoist thought to reflect on the ways that such a microbial understanding translates into life and city dwelling.


id: cord-022158-32pe8ou0
title: Empirical Morphological Model to Evaluate Urban Wind Permeability in High-Density Cities
author: Yuan, Chao
date: 2018-01-16
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153448/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-5451-8_2
abstract:
  In this chapter, a high-resolution frontal area density (FAD) map that evaluates urban permeability was produced using an empirical model, which takes into account the heterogeneous urban morphology and local wind availability. Using the MM5/CALMET model, the wind data of Hong Kong was simulated, the FAD map of three urban zones were calculated: podium (0–15 m), building (15–60 m), and urban canopy (0–60 m). Wind tunnel test data was used to correlate the FAD understanding of the three zones with pedestrian-level wind environment. Linear regression analysis indicated that a lower urban podium zone yielded the best correlation with the experimental data, and 200 × 200 m was the reasonable resolution for the FAD map. This study further established that the simpler two-dimensional ground coverage ratio (GCR) that is readily available in the planning circle can be used to predict the area’s average pedestrian-level urban ventilation performance of the city. Working with their in-house GIS team using available data, the GCR will provide the planners a way to understand the urban ventilation of the city for decisions related to air paths, urban permeability, and site porosity.


id: cord-029338-r8vf6pqt
author: Chun, Jack
date: 2020-04-29
txt: ./txt/cord-029338-r8vf6pqt.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-029338-r8vf6pqt.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7363830/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-5266-3_4
summary:
  In this chapter, a Rawlsian model is adopted in analysing the dynamics between politics, governance and justice in the land controversy of Hong Kong. Confronting these questions, I will first introduce three conceptual tools found in Rawls'' theory of justice (1972, 1996, 2001) and then show how the Rawlsian model is applicable to the general situation in Hong Kong. From their perspective, the government should not unjustly allow a selected group of stakeholders (i.e. the developers) to unfairly take advantages of the situation when Hong Kong people collectively facing such a serious land problem. This point is important because only by underscoring this minimal moral sense can Rawls fully answer the challenge, such as the one raised by Habermas (1995) , that merely from the self-interested rationality (private reason) one can never yield reasonableness (public reason) in one''s judgement, which is required for the impartial agents in the original position to formulate the two principles of justice, especially the difference principle.

title:
  A Rawlsian Model of Land Justice for Hong Kong: The Controversy on the Development of the North New Territories

abstract:
  I adopt a Rawlsian model in analysing the challenge recently faced by the Hong Kong government regarding its governance of the land development. The challenge is illustrated with the stakeholders’ debates on three case studies: the brownfield sites, Fanling Golf Course and the private agricultural land reserve. The Rawlsian model adopted here aims to unfold the dialectics of the land controversy and identify the Rawlsian solution. For this purpose, expounded are certain important Rawlsian concepts, including the distinction between rationality and reasonableness. In conclusion, I argue that, while an immediate political reconciliation seems unlikely, the possibility of such a reconciliation is open in the long run if one grasps the crux of the stakeholders’ dialectics and recognizes the intricate interconnection of the overlapping consensus in the constitutional and institutional levels on the political conception of justice.


id: cord-034317-bhzctz87
title: Evolution of bioethics education in the medical programme: a tale of two medical schools
author: Ngan, Olivia Miu Yung
date: 2020-10-27
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7590560/
doi: 10.1007/s40889-020-00112-0
abstract:
  Bioethics Education in the Anglo-European context developed since 1970 and was incorporated into the undergraduate and postgraduate education, residency training, and continuous education. In the Asia-Pacific region, bioethics education is less structured and often dependent on contextual constraints. This paper provides a cross-sectional analysis, describing institutional experiences in developing bioethics curriculum at two medical schools in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The medical programmes of the two institutions are distinctive in terms curriculum framework, teaching approach, and topic selection, and common challenges include implementation of bioethics courses, students’ resistance to bioethics, and limited teaching capacity, emerged as they evolve. The reported experiences revealed that there is room for improvement regarding how medical schools integrate bioethics education in regions where curriculum development remains at an early stage. At least, a bioethics education requires both top-down support from the faculty to improve teaching and educational quality, as well as from the bottom-up approach to empower students to raise awareness and concerns toward bioethics, and helps students developing reasoning through challenging issues.


id: cord-253111-n5ywei4t
author: Keck, Frédéric
date: 2018-04-14
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32336932/
doi: 10.1111/1467-9655.12813
title:
  Avian preparedness: simulations of bird diseases and reverse scenarios of extinction in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore

abstract:
  This article describes relations between humans, animals, artefacts, and pathogens in simulations of disasters, taking bird diseases in three Chinese sentinel posts as ethnographic cases. Drawing on distinctions between simulation, ritual, and play, it shows that the engagement of actors in the imaginary of simulations, which they describe as ‘realism’, reflectively reverses the oppositions between humans and nonhumans, active and passive, fiction and reality that shape ordinary life. Borrowing from the anthropology of hunting societies, it argues that simulations of bird diseases, considered as signs of future species extinction, rely on cynegetic techniques of power, in which humans and animals symmetrically shift perspectives, and not only on pastoralist techniques, in which humans are above the population they monitor and sometimes sacrifice.


id: cord-254340-e1x0z3rh
author: Cruz, Christian Joy Pattawi
date: 2020-06-26
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32589645/
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235306
title:
  Exploring the young demographic profile of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong: Evidence from migration and travel history data

abstract:
  This paper investigates the profile of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, highlighting the unique age structure of confirmed cases compared to other territories. While the majority of cases in most territories around the world have fitted an older age profile, our analysis shows that positive cases in Hong Kong have been concentrated among younger age groups, with the largest incidence of cases reported in the 15–24 age group. This is despite the population’s rapidly aging structure and extremely high levels of population density. Using detailed case data from Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Department and Immigration Department, we analyze the sex and age distribution of the confirmed cases along with their recent travel histories and immigration flows for the period January to April 2020. Our analysis highlights Hong Kong’s high proportion of imported cases and large overseas student population in developing COVID-19 hotspot areas such as the United Kingdom. Combined with community action and targeted and aggressive early policy measures taken to contain the virus, these factors may have contributed to the uniquely younger age structure of COVID-19 cases in the city. Consequently, this young profile of confirmed cases may have prevented fatalities in the territory. Recent research has highlighted the importance of a demographic approach to understanding COVID-19 transmission and fatality rates. The experience in Hong Kong shows that while an older population age structure may be important for understanding COVID-19 fatality, it is not a given. From a social science perspective at least, there is ‘no easy answer’ to why one area should experience COVID-19 differently from another.


id: cord-256163-62cc135r
title: Cybercrime in cloud: Risks and responses in Hong Kong, Singapore
author: Laurie Lau, Yiu Chung
date: 2015-06-05
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/B9780128015957000021
doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801595-7.00002-1
abstract:
  The popularity and commercialization of the “Internetwork” began in the late 1990s through the interconnection of computer networks using special gateways or routers to transfer packets of electronic data. As with many things in life, Internetwork technology has had both positive and negative effects on society, and Asia has been no exception. One of the negative effects has been a surge in Internet crime. According to a report released by the Gartner Consulting Group, in 2013 smart phone sales exceeded regular phone sales for the first time, with 968 million smart phones sold, representing 54% of the global mobile phone total and an increase of 54% from 2012. The popularity and technology of the mobile Internetwork, especially the smart mobile phone web, has changed the Internetwork landscape through the concept of cloud computing. Cloud computing is distributed computing over a network, using a program or application that can run on many connected computers and in different locations around the globe simultaneously at a reduced cost. This distributed cloud computing presents law enforcement authorities with the unique challenge of policing Internet crime. Cloud computing relies on sharing resources to achieve coherence, and in doing so creates economies of scale for converged infrastructures and shared services. Accordingly, one problem facing the authorities is the presence of trans- and multijurisdictional crimes. In this chapter, I explore this topic in the contexts of Hong Kong and Singapore, as both are key players on the international stage, especially in relation to international finance and information technology. In both locations, infrastructure works to maintain global financial center status. The remainder of this chapter is organized as follows. A brief overview of the development of cloud computing is followed by an examination of cybercrime risks in the cloud. Then, I review how the authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore respond to cybercrime risks and explore the current government policies on cloud computing, particularly in fighting cybercrime.


id: cord-257698-ed2tqn35
title: Index Patient and SARS Outbreak in Hong Kong
author: Wong, Raymond S.M.
date: 2004-02-17
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15030708/
doi: 10.3201/eid1002.030645
abstract:
  During the global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, treatment was empiric. We report the case history of the index patient in a hospital outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong. The patient recovered after conventional antimicrobial therapy. Further studies are needed to address treatment of SARS, which has high attack and death rates.


id: cord-258307-nsdhvc8w
author: Maki, Dennis G.
date: 2011-10-20
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025619611621812
doi: 10.4065/79.11.1359
abstract: nan
title:
  SARS Revisited: The Challenge of Controlling Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Local, Regional, Federal, and Global Levels


id: cord-260438-oezkz55m
author: Tung, W.L.
date: 2010-08-20
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2010.07.116
doi: 10.1016/j.eswa.2010.07.116
title:
  Financial volatility trading using a self-organising neural-fuzzy semantic network and option straddle-based approach

abstract:
  Financial volatility refers to the intensity of the fluctuations in the expected return on an investment or the pricing of a financial asset due to market uncertainties. Hence, volatility modeling and forecasting is imperative to financial market investors, as such projections allow the investors to adjust their trading strategies in anticipation of the impending financial market movements. Following this, financial volatility trading is the capitalization of the uncertainties of the financial markets to realize investment profits in times of rising, falling and side-way market conditions. In this paper, an intelligent straddle trading system (framework) that consists of a volatility projection module (VPM) and a trade decision module (TDM) is proposed for financial volatility trading via the buying and selling of option straddles to help a human trader capitalizes on the underlying uncertainties of the Hong Kong stock market. Three different measures, namely: (1) the historical volatility (HV), (2) implied volatility (IV) and (3) model-based volatility (MV) of the Hang Seng Index (HSI) are employed to quantify the implicit volatility of the Hong Kong stock market. The TDM of the proposed straddle trading system combines the respective volatility measures with the well-established moving-averages convergence/divergence (MACD) principle to recommend trading actions to a human trader dealing in HSI straddles. However, the inherent limitation of the MACD trading rule is that it generates time-delayed trading signals due to the use of moving averages, which are essentially lagging trend indicators. This drawback is intuitively addressed in the proposed straddle trading system by applying the VPM to compute future projections of the volatility measures of the HSI prior to the activation of the TDM. The VPM is realized by a self-organising neural-fuzzy semantic network named the evolving fuzzy semantic memory (eFSM) model. As compared to existing statistical and computational intelligence based modeling techniques currently employed for financial volatility modeling and forecasting, eFSM possesses several desirable attributes such as: (1) an evolvable knowledge base to continuously address the non-stationary characteristics of the Hong Kong stock market; (2) highly formalized human-like information computations; and (3) a transparent structure that can be interpreted via a set of linguistic IF–THEN semantic fuzzy rules. These qualities provide added credence to the computed HSI volatility projections. The volatility modeling and forecasting performances of the eFSM, when benchmarked to several established modeling techniques, as well as the observed trading returns of the proposed straddle trading system, are encouraging.


id: cord-260503-yq4dtf8n
title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome and dentistry A retrospective view
author: SAMARANAYAKE, LAKSHMAN P.
date: 2004-09-30
txt: ./txt/cord-260503-yq4dtf8n.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-260503-yq4dtf8n.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15493394/
doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2004.0405
summary:
  Objectives The authors trace the emergence of the SARS outbreak from southern China and its spread worldwide, discuss the viral etiology of the infection and its clinical features, and review the infection control guidelines issued during the outbreak by the health authorities in Hong Kong, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association. Conclusions and Clinical Implications Researchers believe that a combination of factors, including the universal infection control measures that the dental community has implemented and/or the low degree of viral shedding in the prodromal phase of SARS, may have obviated the spread of the disease in dental settings. Interim domestic infection control precautions for aerosol-generating procedures on C L I N I C A L P R A C T I C E patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

abstract:
  ABSTRACT Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which has created panic in Asia and in some parts of North America, is the first epidemic of the new century. Although it has been well-contained, sporadic cases continue to emerge. Objectives The authors trace the emergence of the SARS outbreak from southern China and its spread worldwide, discuss the viral etiology of the infection and its clinical features, and review the infection control guidelines issued during the outbreak by the health authorities in Hong Kong, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association. They also review the prospects for a new outbreak and preventive measures. Overview The disease, which is caused by a novel coronavirus termed the “SARS coronavirus,” or SARS-CoV, essentially spreads through droplet infection and affects people of any age. It has a mortality rate ranging from 10 to 15 percent. A major hallmark of this disease has been the rate at which it has affected health care workers through nosocomial transmission; in some countries, up to one-fourth to one-third of those infected were in this category. However, no dental health care worker has been affected by SARS in a nosocomial or dental setting. Conclusions and Clinical Implications Researchers believe that a combination of factors, including the universal infection control measures that the dental community has implemented and/or the low degree of viral shedding in the prodromal phase of SARS, may have obviated the spread of the disease in dental settings. The dental community should reflect on this outbreak to reinforce the currently applied infection control measures.


id: cord-262545-bs8p50ig
author: Luk, Andrea O. Y.
date: 2020-02-20
txt: ./txt/cord-262545-bs8p50ig.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-262545-bs8p50ig.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003052
doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003052
summary:
  From the 2012-2014 National Health Insurance Service database containing 706 physician-reported cases of type 1 diabetes in children aged <15 years in South Korea, Kim and colleagues reported an incidence of 3.2 per 100,000 person-years, which was 2.3-fold higher compared with the rate recorded in the earlier period of 1995-2000 [13] . Based on retrospective retrieval of 255 paediatric cases of newly diagnosed diabetes between 1984 and 1996, Huen and colleagues recorded an incidence of 1.4 per 100,000 person-years for type 1 diabetes in children aged <15 years in Hong Kong, which was considerably lower than our updated estimates of 5.3-6.4 per 100,000 person-years in a comparable age group [14] . In the present study, 60% of incident cases of diabetes in people aged <20 years were type 2 diabetes. In this report on the secular trend of the incidence of diabetes in Hong Kong, we revealed that the incidence of type 1 diabetes increased in people aged <20 years and was stable in other age groups.

title:
  Secular trends in incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong: A retrospective cohort study

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: There is very limited data on the time trend of diabetes incidence in Asia. Using population-level data, we report the secular trend of the incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2015. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The Hong Kong Diabetes Surveillance Database hosts clinical information on people with diabetes receiving care under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, a statutory body that governs all public hospitals and clinics. Sex-specific incidence rates were standardised to the age structure of the World Health Organization population. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to describe incidence trends. A total of 562,022 cases of incident diabetes (type 1 diabetes [n = 2,426]: mean age at diagnosis is 32.5 years, 48.4% men; type 2 diabetes [n = 559,596]: mean age at diagnosis is 61.8 years, 51.9% men) were included. Among people aged <20 years, incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increased. For type 1 diabetes, the incidence increased from 3.5 (95% CI 2.2–4.9) to 5.3 (95% CI 3.4–7.1) per 100,000 person-years (average annual percentage change [AAPC] 3.6% [95% CI 0.2–7.1], p < 0.05) in boys and from 4.3 (95% CI 2.7–5.8) to 6.4 (95% CI 4.3–8.4) per 100,000 person-years (AAPC 4.7% [95% CI 1.7–7.7], p < 0.05] in girls; for type 2 diabetes, the incidence increased from 4.6 (95% CI 3.2–6.0) to 7.5 (95% CI 5.5–9.6) per 100,000 person-years (AAPC 5.9% [95% CI 3.4–8.5], p < 0.05) in boys and from 5.9 (95% CI 4.3–7.6) to 8.5 (95% CI 6.2–10.8) per 100,000 person-years (AAPC 4.8% [95% CI 2.7–7.0], p < 0.05) in girls. In people aged 20 to <40 years, incidence of type 1 diabetes remained stable, but incidence of type 2 diabetes increased over time from 75.4 (95% CI 70.1–80.7) to 110.8 (95% CI 104.1–117.5) per 100,000 person-years (AAPC 4.2% [95% CI 3.1–5.3], p < 0.05) in men and from 45.0 (95% CI 41.4–48.6) to 62.1 (95% CI 57.8–66.3) per 100,000 person-years (AAPC 3.3% [95% CI 2.3–4.2], p < 0.05) in women. In people aged 40 to <60 years, incidence of type 2 diabetes increased until 2011/2012 and then flattened. In people aged ≥60 years, incidence was stable in men and declined in women after 2011. No trend was identified in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in people aged ≥20 years. The present study is limited by its reliance on electronic medical records for identification of people with diabetes, which may result in incomplete capture of diabetes cases. The differentiation of type 1 and type 2 diabetes was based on an algorithm subject to potential misclassification. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in incidence of type 2 diabetes in people aged <40 years and stabilisation in people aged ≥40 years. Incidence of type 1 diabetes continued to climb in people aged <20 years but remained constant in other age groups.


id: cord-263941-afxh7rks
author: Yip, Paul
date: 2020-10-27
txt: ./txt/cord-263941-afxh7rks.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-263941-afxh7rks.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33133735/
doi: 10.1007/s42379-020-00069-z
summary:
  The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) system in Hong Kong provides a safety net for those aged children and adults below 65 years old who cannot support themselves financially. For Hong Kong, after accounting for government recurrent cash benefits (including various kinds of social security schemes including CSSA), the size of the poor population was reduced from 1.4 million to just over 1 million (14.7% of the population)-a 28% reduction in the size of the poverty population. In this study, we adopt a decomposition analysis to assess the impact of population growth and age structure on the numbers of people moving in and out of the CSSA scheme for the period 2014-2018. The decomposition analysis allows us to examine the impact on the number of CSSA recipients of changes in arrival and removal, population size and age distribution.

title:
  A decomposition analysis to examine the change in the number of recipients in the comprehensive social security assistance (CSSA) system

abstract:
  Social security is an important social and public policy measure to help address poverty in any contemporary society. The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) system in Hong Kong provides a safety net for those aged children and adults below 65 years old who cannot support themselves financially. It is designed to bring their income up to a prescribed level to meet their basic needs. The rapid increase in social welfare expenditure in the last decade has become a concern to the Hong Kong SAR Government. The overall social welfare expenditure has accounted for nearly 15.6% of government expenditure in 2018, with the total amount increasing from $58 billion to $90 billion (an increase of 72.4%) for the period 2014-2018. However, the amount spent on CSSA only increased from $20.7 billion to $22.3 billion with an increase of 7.7% only for the same period. The much slower magnitude of increase is related to the reduction in the number of CSSA recipients, which decreased from 237,501 to 185,528 over the period. A decomposition method was used to assess the changes in the number of people in the CSSA system. It showed that the rate of arriving into the system has been decreasing due to a robust economy with a very low unemployment rate; whereas moving out of the system has also been decreasing in the past 5 years. This phenomenon can be partly attributed to the widening of the income gap in the community in the period. Despite the increase in population size, as long as employment conditions remain strong and the momentum of leaving the system can be maintained, the number of CSSA recipients will continue to decrease. However, the results also suggested that a certain proportion of CSSA recipients will not be able to move out of the system and have been trapped. Some innovative methods to help them out of CSSA are discussed. In view of the poor economic outlook arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the Government to have effective measures to keep people in their jobs. If the unemployment rate will does not substantially increase and then increase of in CSSA recipients can be contained.


id: cord-268789-9b4quuqx
author: Zhou, Y.
date: 2011-08-31
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2011.02.017
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2011.02.017
title:
  Seroprevalence of antibody to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 among healthcare workers after the first wave in Hong Kong

abstract:
  Summary During the first wave of an influenza pandemic prior to the availability of an effective vaccine, healthcare workers (HCWs) may be at particular risk of infection with the novel influenza strain. We conducted a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of antibody to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1) among HCWs in Hong Kong in February–March 2010 following the first pandemic wave. Sera collected from HCWs were tested for antibody to pH1N1 influenza virus by viral neutralisation (VN). We assessed factors associated with higher antibody titres, and we compared antibody titres in HCWs with those in a separate community study. In total we enrolled 703 HCWs. Among 599 HCWs who did not report receipt of pH1N1 vaccine, 12% had antibody titre ≥1:40 by VN. There were no significant differences in the age-specific proportions of unvaccinated HCWs with antibody titre ≥1:40 compared with the general community following the first wave of pH1N1. Under good adherence to infection control guidelines, potential occupational exposures in the hospital setting did not appear to be associated with any substantial excess risk of pH1N1 infection in HCWs. Most HCWs had low antibody titres following the first pandemic wave.


id: cord-269213-tsm6zoe3
author: Slaughter, Laura
date: 2005-01-30
txt: ./txt/cord-269213-tsm6zoe3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-269213-tsm6zoe3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S153204640500002X
doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2004.12.006
summary:
  This paper provides a description of a methodological framework designed to capture the inter-relationships between the lay publics'' understanding of health-related processes, information gathering behaviors, and actions taken during an outbreak. This methodological framework, based on narrative analysis, is a tool for learning about how laypersons use information to build representations of an epidemic situation and how the results of this process influence their decisions to act. For example, the interview texts also result in a list of information needs expressed by the lay public concerning an outbreak as well as a general list of actions taken for SARS prevention. The arrangement of the interview into time periods (before, during, and upcoming events related to the epidemic) facilitates the data analysis when looking at the interactions and influences between informa-tion received, lay understanding, and actions taken.

title:
  A framework for capturing the interactions between laypersons’ understanding of disease, information gathering behaviors, and actions taken during an epidemic

abstract:
  This paper provides a description of a methodological framework designed to capture the inter-relationships between the lay publics’ understanding of health-related processes, information gathering behaviors, and actions taken during an outbreak. We developed and refined our methods during a study involving eight participants living in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-affected areas (Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Toronto). The framework is an adaptation of narrative analysis, a qualitative method that is used to investigate a phenomenon through interpretation of the stories people tell about their experiences. From our work, several hypotheses emerged that will contribute to future research. For example, our findings showed that many decisions in an epidemic are carefully considered and involve use of significant information gathering. Having a good model of lay actions based on information received and beliefs held will contribute to the development of more effective information support systems in the event of a future epidemic.


id: cord-269612-pmzdovna
title: Politics, media and microbiologists
author: Pennington, Hugh
date: 2004
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15083161/
doi: 10.1038/nrmicro846
abstract:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) took everybody by surprise. Its emergence was one of the most significant microbiological events of 2003. It challenged microbiologists to identify the aetiological agent and satisfy Koch's postulates — in so far as they ever can be met for a virus — in real time. Not only were the patients' respiratory secretions and the agents grown in cultured cells put under the microscope, but so were the actions of politicians. What lessons can we learn from SARS?


id: cord-269623-9pxdeva3
title: Influenza
author: Nicholson, Karl G
date: 2003-11-22
txt: ./txt/cord-269623-9pxdeva3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-269623-9pxdeva3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0140673603148544
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(03)14854-4
summary:
  The contrast between recent cases of H5N1 infection, associated with high mortality, and the typically mild, self-limiting nature of human infections with avian H7N7 and H9N2 influenza shows the gaps in our understanding of molecular correlates of pathogenicity and underlines the need for continuing international research into pandemic influenza. We gave priority to randomised controlled trials when available, to larger studies, articles published in high-impact journals that have a wide readership, and the systematic review and economic decision modelling, for the prevention and treatment of influenza, commissioned by the Health Technology Assessment Programme on behalf of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence. A meta-analysis of reports published before 2001 showed that vaccination reduces numbers of cases of influenza-like illness by 35%, hospital admissions for pneumonia and influenza by 47%, and all-cause mortality by 50%.

abstract:
  Although most influenza infections are self-limited, few other diseases exert such a huge toll of suffering and economic loss. Despite the importance of influenza, there had been, until recently, little advance in its control since amantadine was licensed almost 40 years ago. During the past decade, evidence has accrued on the protection afforded by inactivated vaccines and the safety and efficacy in children of live influenza-virus vaccines. There have been many new developments in vaccine technology. Moreover, work on viral neuraminidase has led to the licensing of potent selective antiviral drugs, and economic decision modelling provides further justification for annual vaccination and a framework for the use of neuraminidase inhibitors. Progress has also been made on developing near-patient testing for influenza that may assist individual diagnosis or the recognition of widespread virus circulation, and so optimise clinical management. Despite these advances, the occurrence of avian H5N1, H9N2, and H7N7 influenza in human beings and the rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome are reminders of our vulnerability to an emerging pandemic. The contrast between recent cases of H5N1 infection, associated with high mortality, and the typically mild, self-limiting nature of human infections with avian H7N7 and H9N2 influenza shows the gaps in our understanding of molecular correlates of pathogenicity and underlines the need for continuing international research into pandemic influenza. Improvements in animal and human surveillance, new approaches to vaccination, and increasing use of vaccines and antiviral drugs to combat annual influenza outbreaks are essential to reduce the global toll of pandemic and interpandemic influenza.


id: cord-270909-wb7mwklo
author: Cheng, Vincent C.C.
date: 2020-05-24
txt: ./txt/cord-270909-wb7mwklo.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-270909-wb7mwklo.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655320302807?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.018
summary:
  BACKGROUND: To describe the infection control strategy to achieve zero nosocomial transmission of symptomatic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 during the pre-pandemic phase (the first 72 days after announcement of pneumonia cases in Wuhan) in Hong Kong. Pandemic infection of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared by World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020, which is 72 days after announcement of a cluster of patients with community acquired pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province by National Health Commission of the People''s Republic of China (NHCPRC), on 31 December 2019 (day 1) [1] . Up to 11 March 2020 (day 72 after the official announcement of a cluster of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, a total of 130 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were confirmed in Hong Kong, while the first 42 patients were reported previously [9] .

title:
  Absence of nosocomial transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 in the pre-pandemic phase in Hong Kong

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: To describe the infection control strategy to achieve zero nosocomial transmission of symptomatic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 during the pre-pandemic phase (the first 72 days after announcement of pneumonia cases in Wuhan) in Hong Kong. METHODS: Administrative support with the aim of zero nosocomial transmission by reducing elective clinical services, decanting wards, mobilizing isolation facilities, providing adequate personal protective equipment, coordinating laboratory network for rapid molecular diagnosis under 4-tier active surveillance for hospitalized- and out-patients, and organizing staff forum and training was implemented under the framework of preparedness plan in Hospital Authority. The trend of SARS-CoV-2 in the first 72 days was compared with that of SARS-CoV 2003. RESULTS: Up to day 72 of the epidemic, 130 (0.40%) of 32,443 patients being screened confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Compared with SARS outbreak in 2003, the SARS-CoV-2 case load constituted 8.9% (130 SARS-CoV-2/1458 SARS-CoV) of SARS-CoV infected cases at day 72 of the outbreak. The incidences of nosocomial acquisition of SARS-CoV per-1,000-SARS-patient-day and per-100-SARS-patient-admission were 7.9 and 16.9 respectively, which were significantly higher than the corresponding incidences of SARS-CoV-2 (zero infection, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Administrative support to infection control could minimize the risk of nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2.


id: cord-272207-jtvf257r
author: Liao, Qiuyan
date: 2014-03-27
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-14-169
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-169
title:
  Anxiety, worry and cognitive risk estimate in relation to protective behaviors during the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong: ten cross-sectional surveys

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated associations between psychological and behavioral indices throughout a major epidemic. This study was aimed to compare the strength of associations between different cognitive and affective measures of risk and self-reported protective behaviors in a series of ten cross-sectional surveys conducted throughout the first wave of influenza A/H1N1 pandemic. METHODS: All surveys were conducted using questionnaire-based telephone interviews, with random digit dialing to recruit adults from the general population. Measures of anxiety and worry (affective) and perceived risk (cognitive) regarding A/H1N1 were made in 10 serial surveys. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the cognitive/affective-behavioral associations in each survey while multilevel logistic models were conducted to estimate the average effects of each cognitive/affective measure on adoption of protective behaviors throughout the ten surveys. RESULTS: Excepting state anxiety, other affective measures including “anticipated worry”, “experienced worry” and “current worry” specific to A/H1N1 risk were consistently and strongly associated with adoption of protective behaviors across different survey periods. However, the cognitive-behavioral associations were weaker and inconsistent across the ten surveys. Perceived A/H1N1 severity relative to SARS had stronger associations with adoption of protective behaviors in the late epidemic periods than in the early epidemic periods. CONCLUSION: Risk-specific worries appear to be significantly associated with the adoption of protective behaviors at different epidemic stages, whereas cognitive measures may become more important in understanding people’s behavioral responses later in epidemics. Future epidemic-related psycho-behavioral research should include more affective-loaded measures of risk.


id: cord-272526-2fgtjouu
author: Hutton, Thomas A
date: 2003-05-30
txt: ./txt/cord-272526-2fgtjouu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-272526-2fgtjouu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0305900603000138
doi: 10.1016/s0305-9006(03)00013-8
summary:
  5 5 In general scholarly attention to the growth and development of service activities has evolved as follows: (a) an early interest in the growth of high-rise offices in the CBDs of the largest metropolitan cities, including important theoretical and conceptual contributions (Gottmann, 1961) , (b) a stream of empirical studies of office location, emphasizing regional policy implications and urban planning problems (Daniels, 1975; Goddard, 1975) , (c) growing interest in the social ramifications of services growth (Bell, 1973) , (d) a sharper analytical focus on business, ''producer'' and other intermediate services, and their role in urban and regional development (Noyelle and Stanback, 1984) , and in the operation of ''flexible'' industrial regimes, (e) assessments of the global dimensions of services development, especially in banking and finance, as well as in producer services and communications (Daniels, 1993 ), (f) acknowledgement of the importance of specialized services in the emergence of the ''informational city'' and urban society (Castells, 1989) , and (g) explorations of the intersections between tertiarization, occupational shifts, urban class (re)formation, and community-level impacts, especially in the metropolitan core (Ley, 1996) .

title:
  Service industries, globalization, and urban restructuring within the Asia-Pacific: new development trajectories and planning responses

abstract:
  While industralization programmes have been central to the development of Asia-Pacific states and city-regions over the past half-century, service industries are increasingly important as instruments of urban growth and change. The purpose of this paper is to establish service industries as increasingly significant aspects of urban development within the Asia-Pacific, and to propose a conceptual and analytical framework for scholarly investigation within this important research domain. To this end the paper explores a sequence of related themes and issues, concerning the larger developmental implications of urban services growth (or tertiarization), the facets of urban transformation associated with tertiarization, and a preliminary typology of urban service functions which acknowledges the rich diversity of service vocations and stages of development within the Asia-Pacific. The paper concludes that “advanced services”—specialized, intermediate service industries, advanced-technology services, and creative service industries—will be quite crucial to the development of city-regions within the Asia-Pacific, with respect to employment growth and human capital formation, to the urban economic (or export) base, to the operation of flexible production systems, and to competitive advantage. The development of these urban service poles will require innovative policy commitments and regulatory adjustments, as will the multi-centred specialized urban service corridors which function as engines of regional economic growth, and which provide platforms for national modernization and responses to the pressures (and opportunities) of globalization. To date, urban and regional development strategies for service industries within the Asia-Pacific have privileged globalization, industrial restructuring, and modernization aims, but there is also an encouraging record of more progressive planning experimentation in some jurisdictions, incorporating principles of sustainability and co-operative development. There is also increasing interest in policies to support cultural and creative industries among Asia-Pacific city-regions, informed by some recent urban policy experimentation in this domain. These experiences can offer models for further policy and programmatic innovation in the 21st century, as service industries continue to play larger roles in urban and regional development within the Asia-Pacific.


id: cord-272759-dqkjofw2
title: Super-spreaders and the rate of transmission of the SARS virus
author: Small, Michael
date: 2006-03-15
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0167278906000479
doi: 10.1016/j.physd.2006.01.021
abstract:
  We describe a stochastic small-world network model of transmission of the SARS virus. Unlike the standard Susceptible-Infected-Removed models of disease transmission, our model exhibits both geographically localised outbreaks and “super-spreaders”. Moreover, the combination of localised and long range links allows for more accurate modelling of partial isolation and various public health policies. From this model, we derive an expression for the probability of a widespread outbreak and a condition to ensure that the epidemic is controlled. Moreover, multiple simulations are used to make predictions of the likelihood of various eventual scenarios for fixed initial conditions. The main conclusions of this study are: (i) “super-spreaders” may occur even if the infectiousness of all infected individuals is constant; (ii) consistent with previous reports, extended exposure time beyond 3–5 days (i.e. significant nosocomial transmission) was the key factor in the severity of the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong; and, (iii) the spread of SARS can be effectively controlled by either limiting long range links (imposing a partial quarantine) or enforcing rapid hospitalisation and isolation of symptomatic individuals.


id: cord-273638-mmlwh87u
author: Tso, Ivy F.
date: 2020-08-23
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32871487/
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113423
title:
  Alarming levels of psychiatric symptoms and the role of loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic: A case study of Hong Kong

abstract:
  Public health strategies to curb the spread of the coronavirus involve sheltering at home and social distancing are effective in reducing the transmission rate, but the unintended consequences of prolonged social isolation on mental health have not been investigated. We focused on Hong Kong for its very rapid and comprehensive response to the pandemic and strictly enacted social distancing protocols. Thus, Hong Kong is a model case for the population-wide practice of effective social distancing and provides an opportunity to examine the impact of loneliness on mental health during the COVID-19. We conducted an anonymous online survey of 432 residents in Hong Kong to examine psychological distress in the community. The results indicate a dire situation with respect to mental health. An astonishing 65.6% (95% C.I. = [60.6%, 70.4%]) of the respondents reported clinical levels of depression, anxiety, and/or stress. Moreover, 22.5% (95% C.I. = [18.2%, 27.2%]) of the respondents were showing signs of psychosis risk. Subjective feelings of loneliness, but not social network size, were associated with increased psychiatric symptoms. To mitigate the potential epidemic of mental illness in the near future, there is an urgent need to prepare clinicians, caregivers and stakeholders to focus on loneliness.


id: cord-274112-6t0wpiqy
author: Webby, RJ
date: 2004-04-03
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673604158923
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(04)15892-3
title:
  Responsiveness to a pandemic alert: use of reverse genetics for rapid development of influenza vaccines

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: In response to the emergence of severe infection capable of rapid global spread, WHO will issue a pandemic alert. Such alerts are rare; however, on Feb 19, 2003, a pandemic alert was issued in response to human infections caused by an avian H5N1 influenza virus, A/Hong Kong/213/03. H5N1 had been noted once before in human beings in 1997 and killed a third (6/18) of infected people.1, 2 The 2003 variant seemed to have been transmitted directly from birds to human beings and caused fatal pneumonia in one of two infected individuals. Candidate vaccines were sought, but no avirulent viruses antigenically similar to the pathogen were available, and the isolate killed embryonated chicken eggs. Since traditional strategies of vaccine production were not viable, we sought to produce a candidate reference virus using reverse genetics. METHODS: We removed the polybasic aminoacids that are associated with high virulence from the haemagglutinin cleavage site of A/Hong Kong/213/03 using influenza reverse genetics techniques. A reference vaccine virus was then produced on an A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) backbone on WHO-approved Vero cells. We assessed this reference virus for pathogenicity in in-vivo and in-vitro assays. FINDINGS: A reference vaccine virus was produced in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade facilities in less than 4 weeks from the time of virus isolation. This virus proved to be non-pathogenic in chickens and ferrets and was shown to be stable after multiple passages in embryonated chicken eggs. INTERPRETATION: The ability to produce a candidate reference virus in such a short period of time sets a new standard for rapid response to emerging infectious disease threats and clearly shows the usefulness of reverse genetics for influenza vaccine development. The same technologies and procedures are currently being used to create reference vaccine viruses against the 2004 H5N1 viruses circulating in Asia.


id: cord-274306-cxvnv8dy
title: Émergence de virus nouveaux en Asie : les changements climatiques sont-ils en cause ?
author: Chastel, C.
date: 2004-11-30
txt: ./txt/cord-274306-cxvnv8dy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-274306-cxvnv8dy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0399077X04001805
doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2004.07.027
summary:
  L''Asie, en particulier la Chine et le Sud-est asiatique, a également connu l''émergence de viroses humaines graves, telles que la dengue hémorragique (les Philippines, 1954) ou plusieurs pandémies grippales, la grippe asiatique (N2H2) en 1957, la grippe de Hong-Kong (H3N2) en 1968, et la grippe russe (H1N1) en 1977. Mais, c''est surtout au cours des dix dernières années que les émergences virales s''y sont multipliées avec l''apparition de la fièvre hémorragique à virus Alkhurma en Arabie Saoudite (1995), de la grippe aviaire H5N1 à Hong-Kong, en 1997, de l''encéphalite à virus Nipah en Malaisie, en 1998, et surtout du SRAS, en Chine du sud en 2002. Depuis l''extermination des porcs infectés, on a plus signalé de cas d''encéphalite à virus Nipah, mais il convient de rester vigilant car les roussettes et les porcs sont très nombreux dans tout le Sud-est asiatique.

abstract:
  Résumé L’Afrique tropicale n’est pas la seule région du monde où des virus dangereux pour l’homme aient récemment émergé. L’Asie, en particulier la Chine et le Sud-est asiatique, a également connu l’émergence de viroses humaines graves, telles que la dengue hémorragique (les Philippines, 1954) ou plusieurs pandémies grippales, la grippe asiatique (N2H2) en 1957, la grippe de Hong-Kong (H3N2) en 1968, et la grippe russe (H1N1) en 1977. Mais, c’est surtout au cours des dix dernières années que les émergences virales s’y sont multipliées avec l’apparition de la fièvre hémorragique à virus Alkhurma en Arabie Saoudite (1995), de la grippe aviaire H5N1 à Hong-Kong, en 1997, de l’encéphalite à virus Nipah en Malaisie, en 1998, et surtout du SRAS, en Chine du sud en 2002. Les facteurs climatiques n’ont probablement joué qu’un rôle réduit dans le succès émergentiel de ces viroses, favorisé plutôt par des facteurs humains : le développement d’élevages industriels d’animaux de basse cour augmentant les risques d’épizooties, les habitudes alimentaires, les pressions économiques et démographiques, les négligences dans la surveillance épidémiologique et la déclaration des premiers cas. Abstract Tropical Africa is not the only area where deadly viruses have recently emerged. In South-East Asia severe epidemics of dengue hemorrhagic fever started in 1954 and flu pandemics have originated from China such as the Asian flu (H2N2) in 1957, the Hong-Kong flu (H3N2) in 1968, and the Russian flu (H1N1) in 1977. However, it is especially during the last ten years that very dangerous viruses for mankind have repeatedly developed in Asia, with the occurrence of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever in Saudi Arabia (1995), avian flu (H5N1) in Hong-Kong (1997), Nipah virus encephalitis in Malaysia (1998,) and, above all, the SARS pandemic fever from Southern China (2002). The evolution of these viral diseases was probably not directly affected by climate change. In fact, their emergential success may be better explained by the development of large industry poultry flocks increasing the risks of epizootics, dietary habits, economic and demographic constraints, and negligence in the surveillance and reporting of the first cases.


id: cord-275708-17cz3agx
title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): chest radiographic features in children
author: Babyn, Paul S.
date: 2003-11-18
txt: ./txt/cord-275708-17cz3agx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-275708-17cz3agx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624321/
doi: 10.1007/s00247-003-1081-8
summary:
  CONCLUSION: In pediatric cases, SARS manifests with nonspecific radiographic features making radiological differentiation difficult, especially from other commonly encountered childhood respiratory viral illnesses causing airspace disease. This article presents the initial chest radiographic findings collated from 62 children diagnosed as probable or suspect SARS cases during the recent SARS outbreak in Toronto, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Keywords Chest AE Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) AE Radiography AE CT AE Children the following signs and symptoms: fever, chills, body ache, cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, tachypnea, crackles, headache, dizziness, hypoxemia, malaise, myalgia, rigor, lethargy, and gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. In general, fever and cough were the most common clinical presentation amongst younger pediatric SARS cases (age<10 years), whereas, in addition to these symptoms, headache, myalgia, sore throat, chills, and/or rigor were reported in older patients (age ‡10 years).

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently recognized condition of viral origin associated with substantial morbidity and mortality rates in adults. Little information is available on its radiologic manifestations in children. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to characterize the radiographic presentation of children with SARS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We abstracted data (n=62) on the radiologic appearance and course of SARS in pediatric patients with suspect (n=25) or probable (n=37) SARS, diagnosed in five hospital sites located in three cities: Toronto, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Available chest radiographs and thoracic CTs were reviewed for the presence of the following radiographic findings: airspace disease, air bronchograms, airways inflammation and peribronchial thickening, interstitial disease, pleural effusion, and hilar adenopathy. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (suspect=25, probable=37) were evaluated for SARS. Patient ages ranged from 5.5 months to 17 years and 11.5 months (average, 6 years and 10 months) with a female-to-male ratio of 32:30. Forty-one patients (66.1%) were in close contact with other probable, suspect, or quarantined cases; 10 patients (16.1%) had recently traveled to WHO-designated affected areas within 10 days; and 7 patients (11.2%) were transferred from other hospitals that had SARS patients. Three patients, who did not have close/hospital contact or travel history to affected areas, were classified as SARS cases based on their clinical signs and symptoms and on the fact that they were living in an endemic area. The most prominent clinical presentations were fever, with a temperature over 38 °C (100%), cough (62.9%), rhinorrhea (22.6%), myalgia (17.7%), chills (14.5%), and headache (11.3%). Other findings included sore throat (9.7%), gastrointestinal symptoms (9.7%), rigor (8.1%), and lethargy (6.5%). In general, fever and cough were the most common clinical presentations amongst younger pediatric SARS cases (age<10 years), whereas, in addition to these symptoms, headache, myalgia, sore throat, chills, and/or rigor were common in older patients (age≥10 years). The chest radiographs of 35.5% of patients were normal. The most prominent radiological findings that were observed in the remaining patients were areas of consolidation (45.2%), often peripheral with multifocal lesions in 22.6%. Peribronchial thickening was noted on chest radiographs of 14.5% of patients. Pleural effusion was observed only in one patient (age 17 years and 11.5 months), whereas interstitial disease was not observed in any patient. CONCLUSION: In pediatric cases, SARS manifests with nonspecific radiographic features making radiological differentiation difficult, especially from other commonly encountered childhood respiratory viral illnesses causing airspace disease. The radiographic presentation of suspected SARS cases ranged from normal to mild perihilar peribronchial thickening. The radiographic presentations, as expected, were relatively more pronounced in the SARS probable cases.


id: cord-276820-l7bd5y8y
author: So, Winnie K.W.
date: 2004-11-30
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0020748904000677
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2004.04.004
title:
  The knowledge level and precautionary measures taken by older adults during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong

abstract:
  Abstract The study aims to examine the knowledge and the practice of the precautionary measures taken by older adults in Hong Kong against the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Overall, more than half the participants responded correctly that droplet transmission is one of the main transmission routes of SARS. Those who received formal education demonstrated that they acquired greater knowledge of the sources and precautionary measures for SARS. The types of precautionary measures used and the factors affecting their behaviours were discussed. The results of the study could help the health-care professionals develop appropriate health promotion and disease prevention programmes for older adults.


id: cord-283537-49ic7p3u
author: Chong, Ka Chun
date: 2015-01-28
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120201560
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120201560
title:
  Identifying Meteorological Drivers for the Seasonal Variations of Influenza Infections in a Subtropical City — Hong Kong

abstract:
  Compared with temperate areas, the understanding of seasonal variations of influenza infections is lacking in subtropical and tropical regions. Insufficient information about viral activity increases the difficulty of forecasting the disease burden and thus hampers official preparation efforts. Here we identified potential meteorological factors that drove the seasonal variations in influenza infections in a subtropical city, Hong Kong. We fitted the meteorological data and influenza mortality data from 2002 to 2009 in a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model. From the results, air temperature was a common significant driver of seasonal patterns and cold temperature was associated with an increase in transmission intensity for most of the influenza epidemics. Except 2004, the fitted models with significant meteorological factors could account for more than 10% of the variance in additional to the null model. Rainfall was also found to be a significant driver of seasonal influenza, although results were less robust. The identified meteorological indicators could alert officials to take appropriate control measures for influenza epidemics, such as enhancing vaccination activities before cold seasons. Further studies are required to fully justify the associations.


id: cord-284028-l0r7f9sr
title: A loophole in international quarantine procedures disclosed during the SARS crisis
author: Lee, Chi-Wei
date: 2004-12-30
txt: ./txt/cord-284028-l0r7f9sr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-284028-l0r7f9sr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893904001267
doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2004.10.002
summary:
  This phenomenon revealed a loophole in the control mechanisms of international quarantine procedures, letting travelers carrying a highly contagious virus slip by undetected and causing possible multi-country outbreaks of communicable diseases. Reasons for its rapid global spread were the highly contagious nature of the virus with its air-borne route of infection, the busy links between affected countries, and probably inadequacies in international quarantine procedures. As shown in Tables 1 and 2, although none of the six patients were eventually diagnosed wild SARS, this observed phenomenon disclosed a very important loophole in the control aspect of international quarantine procedures: the inability to prevent persons with a highly contagious virus from slipping past undetected and thus preventing the further spread of epidemics like SARS on international travel routes. In this study, we identified that there were loopholes in the international quarantine system for controlling the international spread of contagious disease like SARS, especially when travelers lack a strong motivation to cooperate with national health authorities.

abstract:
  This study describes a loophole in the international quarantine system during the recent Asian severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Specifically, that of travelers disguising symptoms of respiratory tract infection at international airports, in order to board aircraft to return to their home countries—notwithstanding the infection risks this involves to others. High medical fees for treatment to non-residents in epidemic areas were found to be the main cause for this behaviour. This phenomenon revealed a loophole in the control mechanisms of international quarantine procedures, letting travelers carrying a highly contagious virus slip by undetected and causing possible multi-country outbreaks of communicable diseases. Clinical evidence collected from medical records at medical centers can highlight this oversight.


id: cord-286705-biundkbv
title: Protests in Hong Kong (2019–2020): a Perspective Based on Quality of Life and Well-Being
author: Shek, Daniel T. L.
date: 2020-03-13
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-020-09825-2
doi: 10.1007/s11482-020-09825-2
abstract:
  Triggered by the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Hong Kong (Extradition Bill), many protests have taken place in Hong Kong in 2019–2020. Using a perspective based on quality of life and well-being in different ecological systems, it is argued that the process of introducing the Bill is the “heat” which has ignited the “fuels” represented by 12 pre-existing and new issues in quality of life and well-being. These issues included distrust in the Central Government, lack of national identity, political dissatisfaction, economic strains, mental health threats, drop in family quality of life, lack of life skills education, lack of evidence-based national education in the formal curriculum, slow response of the Government, and alleged excessive use of force by the police. The fire has been intensified by “four strong winds”, including disinformation and misinformation, anonymity of the protesters, public support for the students, and support given by parties outside Hong Kong. Possible solutions in terms of promotion of quality of life and well-being with reference to the fire triangle are discussed.


id: cord-288219-bwsw9nlr
title: Knowledge of inter-facility transport among emergency nurses in Hong Kong: A questionnaire survey
author: Yeung, K.L.
date: 2008-06-12
txt: ./txt/cord-288219-bwsw9nlr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-288219-bwsw9nlr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2008.05.001
doi: 10.1016/j.ienj.2008.05.001
summary:
  INTRODUCTION: Inter-facility transport (IFT) is a dynamic process and its quality largely depends on pre-transport preparation, emergency equipment support and recognition of possible en route adverse events. Measured outcomes were defined as (1) relationships between clinical experience and relevant training in IFT with questionnaire results, (2) staff knowledge of the equipment carried routinely in ambulances and (3) the en route adverse events encountered according to the participants'' past experience. IFT with questionnaire results, (2) staff knowledge of the equipment carried routinely in ambulances and (3) the en route adverse events encountered according to the participants'' past experience. The aim of this study is to evaluate knowledge levels of inter-facility transport among registered nurses of the AEDs in the eastern New Territories of Hong Kong, with special emphasis on equipment preparation and management of en route adverse events.

abstract:
  INTRODUCTION: Inter-facility transport (IFT) is a dynamic process and its quality largely depends on pre-transport preparation, emergency equipment support and recognition of possible en route adverse events. This study aims to evaluate knowledge of IFT among emergency nurses of three Accident and Emergency Departments in Hong Kong. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to registered nurses of the three departments. Data was sought on participants’ characteristics, knowledge on equipment preparation and management of en route adverse events. Four clinical IFT scenarios were set for participants and answers were scored. Measured outcomes were defined as (1) relationships between clinical experience and relevant training in IFT with questionnaire results, (2) staff knowledge of the equipment carried routinely in ambulances and (3) the en route adverse events encountered according to the participants’ past experience. RESULTS: Participants’ test scores ranged from 24 to 37 (out of 40) with a mean of 30.6 (95% confidence interval 29.7–31.5). Participants with more clinical experience demonstrated significantly better test scores (p < 0.05). Most participants were familiar with the monitoring devices carried in ambulances but were less familiar with the pharmacologic agents and airway devices available routinely in Hong Kong ambulances. Thirty participants (59%) had encountered en route adverse events in the past. CONCLUSION: Nurses in emergency departments in Hong Kong have good knowledge of IFT. Extensive clinical experience is related to better IFT knowledge. IFT training for nurses should emphasize available ambulance service resources and capabilities.


id: cord-288698-3e44z9p0
title: The economic strategy for the Hong Kong SAR: Evidence from productivity and cost analysis
author: Li, Kui-Wai
date: 2005-08-31
txt: ./txt/cord-288698-3e44z9p0.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-288698-3e44z9p0.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104900780500103X
doi: 10.1016/j.asieco.2005.06.008
summary:
  Abstract By using a growth accounting framework for the period 1980–2000, this paper estimates Hong Kong''s total factor productivity and unit labor cost of twenty industries classified into three economic sectors of tradable goods, tradable services and non-tradable services. This paper expanded the data used in Imai (2001) and followed the classification of economic sectors used in Wong and Tao (2000) , and extended the empirical analysis by comparing total factor productivity (TFP) with unlit labor cost analysis. With the exception of mining and quarrying that occupied only a small portion of GDP, individual industries that showed a positive geometric percentage growth in unit labor cost belong mainly to the non-tradable services (construction; community, social and personal services; real estate; restaurant and wholesale) and some tradable services (insurance; land transport; other transport services; business services and financing).

abstract:
  Abstract By using a growth accounting framework for the period 1980–2000, this paper estimates Hong Kong's total factor productivity and unit labor cost of twenty industries classified into three economic sectors of tradable goods, tradable services and non-tradable services. The results show that Hong Kong's total factor productivity has fallen in the 1990s. The competitiveness of the three sectors of tradable goods, tradable services and non-tradable services has increased, remained unchanged and declined, respectively in the last two decades. Policy recommendation for Hong Kong will be to aim for a supply-drive strategy so as to broaden the economic base.


id: cord-289908-7itwc8tm
title: Age, source, and future risk of COVID-19 infections in two settings of Hong Kong and Singapore
author: Zhu, Shuying
date: 2020-07-13
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32660556/
doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05178-z
abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: To explore and compare the age, source and future risk of COVID-19 infection in Hong Kong SAR China and Singapore as of March 5, 2020. RESULTS: We find significant difference in age patterns of confirmed cases in these 2 localities early in the pandemic. CONCLUSION: We highlight the potential importance of population age structure in confirmed cases, which should be considered in evaluation of the effectiveness of control effort in different localities.


id: cord-290352-0pc5eji4
title: Avian influenza A (H5N1)
author: de Jong, Menno D.
date: 2005-10-06
txt: ./txt/cord-290352-0pc5eji4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-290352-0pc5eji4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16213784/
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2005.09.002
summary:
  Since their reemergence in 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses have reached endemic levels among poultry in several southeast Asian countries and have caused a still increasing number of more than 100 reported human infections with high mortality. However, occurrences of direct bird-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses have increasingly been reported in recent years, culminating in the ongoing outbreak of influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in several Asian countries with associated human infections. The "Asian influenza" pandemic of 1957 was caused by an H2N2 virus that had acquired three genes (H2, N2, and PB1) from avian viruses infecting wild ducks, in a backbone of the circulating H1N1 human influenza strain. Furthermore, these infections were associated with severe hemorrhagic pneumonia and the induction of high levels of macrophage-derived cytokines and chemokines, strikingly reminiscent of clinical observations in humans during the Spanish flu pandemic, as well as of recent in vitro and in vivo observations of infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses (Cheung et al., 2002; Oxford, 2000; Peiris et al., 2004; To et al., 2001) .

abstract:
  Since their reemergence in 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses have reached endemic levels among poultry in several southeast Asian countries and have caused a still increasing number of more than 100 reported human infections with high mortality. These developments have ignited global fears of an imminent influenza pandemic. The current knowledge of the virology, clinical spectrum, diagnosis and treatment of human influenza H5N1 virus infections is reviewed herein.


id: cord-290965-7qs4w9xh
author: Kwok, W. C.
date: 2020-11-03
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.29.20222190
doi: 10.1101/2020.10.29.20222190
title:
  Border Restriction as a Public Health Measureto Limit Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

abstract:
  Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to pandemic that affected almost all countries in the world. Many countries have implemented border restriction as a public health measure to limit local outbreak. However, there is inadequate scientific data to support such a practice, especially in the presence of an established local transmission of the disease. Method: A novel metapopulation Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered (SEIR) model with inspected migration was applied to investigate the effect of border restriction between Hong Kong and mainland China on the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Isolation facilities occupancy was also studied. Results: At R0 of 2.2, the cumulative COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong can be reduced by 13.99% (from 29,163 to 25,084) with complete border closure. At an in-patient mortality of 1.4%, the number of deaths can be reduced from 408 to 351 (57 lives saved). However, border closure alone was insufficient to prevent full occupancy of isolation facilities in Hong Kong; effective public health measures to reduce local R0 to below 1.6 was necessary. Conclusion: As a public health measure to tackle COVID-19, border restriction is effective in reducing cumulative cases and mortality.


id: cord-293403-o1i999hy
title: E-health in the East Asian tigers
author: Holliday, Ian
date: 2004-09-11
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1386505604001807
doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2004.08.001
abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: The article analyzes e-health progress in East Asia's leading tiger economies: Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. It describes five main dimensions of e-health provision in the tigers: policymaking, regulation, provision, funding and physician-patient relations. METHODS: We conducted a series of fieldwork interviews and analyzed key healthcare websites. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our main finding is that the development of e-health in the region is less advanced than might be expected. Our explanation focuses on institutional, cultural and financial factors.


id: cord-293858-dk4snw9r
author: Yang, Lin
date: 2019-02-14
txt: ./txt/cord-293858-dk4snw9r.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-293858-dk4snw9r.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30764779/
doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-3735-7
summary:
  Annual excess rates of mortality or hospitalization associated with influenza in the older population were estimated for the pre-SARS (reference period), post-SARS and post-pandemic period, respectively. We constructed time series segmented regression models to estimate cause-specific mortality or hospitalization risks associated with influenza in the older population during the pre-SARS, post-SARS, and post-pandemic periods for Hong Kong and Brisbane. Compared to Hong Kong, during the study period Brisbane had higher mortality rates for all-cause (81.7 vs 66.5 per 100,000 population), cardiorespiratory diseases (CRD, 42.1 vs 33.8), stroke (9.5 vs 6.5) and ischemic heart diseases (IHD, 17.0 vs 7.5), but a lower rate for pneumonia and influenza (P&I, 2.8 vs 9.9), and a comparable rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 3.9 vs 4.2) (Additional file 1: Appendix 3). In this study, we estimated excess rates of mortality or hospitalizations attributable to influenza in different periods (pre-SARS, post-SARS, and post-pandemic) for two subtropical cities Hong Kong and Brisbane.

title:
  Comparison of influenza disease burden in older populations of Hong Kong and Brisbane: the impact of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake in the older population aged 65 years or over of Hong Kong dramatically increased since the 2003 SARS outbreak. This study is aimed to evaluate the impact of increased coverage of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines by comparing the change of disease burden in the older population of Hong Kong, with the burden in the older population of Brisbane with relatively high vaccine coverage in the past fifteen years. METHODS: Time series segmented regression models were applied to weekly numbers of cause-specific mortality or hospitalization of Hong Kong and Brisbane. Annual excess rates of mortality or hospitalization associated with influenza in the older population were estimated for the pre-SARS (reference period), post-SARS and post-pandemic period, respectively. The rate ratios (RRs) between these periods were also calculated to assess the relative change of disease burden. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-SARS period, excess rates of mortality associated with influenza during the post-SARS period in Hong Kong decreased for cardiorespiratory diseases (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.80, 1.01), stroke (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.50, 1.09), and ischemic heart diseases (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.34, 0.58). The corresponding RRs in Brisbane were 0.79 (95% CI 0.54, 1.15), 0.33 (0.13, 0.80), and 1.09 (0.62, 1.90), respectively. Only the mortality of ischemic heart diseases showed a greater reduction in Hong Kong than in Brisbane. During the post-pandemic period, excess rates of all-cause mortality increased in Hong Kong, but to a lesser extent than in Brisbane (RR = 1.41 vs 2.39). CONCLUSION: A relative decrease (or less of an increase) of influenza disease burden was observed in the older population of Hong Kong after increased coverage of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in this population, as compared to those of Brisbane where vaccination rates remained stable. The lack of significant findings in some disease categories highlights the challenges of evaluating the benefits of vaccination at the population level. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-019-3735-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


id: cord-294237-6hovffso
title: SARS: The First Pandemic of the 21(st) Century
author: Cherry, James D
date: 2004
txt: ./txt/cord-294237-6hovffso.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-294237-6hovffso.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15152053/
doi: 10.1203/01.pdr.0000129184.87042.fc
abstract: nan
summary:
  SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) was a new disease in the fall of 2002, which first occurred in Guangdong Province, China and spread to 29 countries with 8422 cases and 916 fatalities (1) (2) (3) . Moreover, cataloging the genome from human cases assisted in the search for the origin of this disease, when viruses related to the SARS-CoV were identified in animals [Himalayan palm civets (Paguma larvata) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)] in a live animal market in Shenzhen, China (12) . On the one hand, in the initial phases of the spread of SARS in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto, a disproportionate number of health care workers became ill and apparent "superspreader" cases were noted (2-4, 6, 11, 14 -18) . Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) at Amoy Gardens, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, main findings of the investigation Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore: clinical features of index patient and initial contacts Severe acute respiratory syndrome in children: experience in a regional hospital in Hong Kong


id: cord-296573-4c9gch5b
author: To, Kelvin KW
date: 2013-08-19
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309913701671
doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(13)70167-1
title:
  The emergence of influenza A H7N9 in human beings 16 years after influenza A H5N1: a tale of two cities

abstract:
  Infection with either influenza A H5N1 virus in 1997 or avian influenza A H7N9 virus in 2013 caused severe pneumonia that did not respond to typical or atypical antimicrobial treatment, and resulted in high mortality. Both viruses are reassortants with internal genes derived from avian influenza A H9N2 viruses that circulate in Asian poultry. Both viruses have genetic markers of mammalian adaptation in their haemagglutinin and polymerase PB2 subunits, which enhanced binding to human-type receptors and improved replication in mammals, respectively. Hong Kong (affected by H5N1 in 1997) and Shanghai (affected by H7N9 in 2013) are two rapidly flourishing cosmopolitan megacities that were increasing in human population and poultry consumption before the outbreaks. Both cities are located along the avian migratory route at the Pearl River delta and Yangtze River delta. Whether the widespread use of the H5N1 vaccine in east Asia—with suboptimum biosecurity measures in live poultry markets and farms—predisposed to the emergence of H7N9 or other virus subtypes needs further investigation. Why H7N9 seems to be more readily transmitted from poultry to people than H5N1 is still unclear.


id: cord-297326-n0fpu8s3
title: New coronavirus outbreak. Lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic
author: ÁLVAREZ, E.
date: 2015-01-16
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25591619/
doi: 10.1017/s095026881400377x
abstract:
  System dynamics approach offers great potential for addressing how intervention policies can affect the spread of emerging infectious diseases in complex and highly networked systems. Here, we develop a model that explains the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) epidemic that occurred in Hong Kong in 2003. The dynamic model developed with system dynamics methodology included 23 variables (five states, four flows, eight auxiliary variables, six parameters), five differential equations and 12 algebraic equations. The parameters were optimized following an iterative process of simulation to fit the real data from the epidemics. Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the reliability of the model. In addition, we discuss how further testing using this model can inform community interventions to reduce the risk in current and future outbreaks, such as the recently Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemic.


id: cord-297618-9ka3y2y1
title: Construction of the Infection Curve of Local Cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong using Back-Projection
author: Chau, Pui Hing
date: 2020-09-21
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186909
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186909
abstract:
  This study aimed to estimate the infection curve of local cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hong Kong and identify major events and preventive measures associated with the trajectory of the infection curve in the first two waves. The daily number of onset local cases was used to estimate the daily number of infections based on back-projection. The estimated infection curve was examined to identify the preventive measures or major events associated with its trajectory. Until 30 April 2020, there were 422 confirmed local cases. The infection curve of the local cases in Hong Kong was constructed and used for evaluating the impacts of various policies and events in a narrative manner. Social gatherings and some pre-implementation announcements on inbound traveler policies coincided with peaks on the infection curve.


id: cord-299464-rrxgr909
title: Collectivism and activism in housing management in Hong Kong
author: Yau, Yung
date: 2010-12-09
txt: ./txt/cord-299464-rrxgr909.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-299464-rrxgr909.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32287696/
doi: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2010.11.006
summary:
  Building on the wide-ranging applications of the collective interest model (CIM) in explaining political participation and environmental activism, this paper expands its relevance to the arena of housing management. In brief, housing management activism is a function of beliefs about personal and group efficacy, the value of the collective good, and the selective benefits and costs of participation. The phenomenon of homeowner participation in housing management in Hong Kong provides an excellent laboratory for the study of such collective action behaviour. An empirical study is carried out in Hong Kong''s private multi-family residential buildings using the CIM, which was developed based on Olson''s (1965) logic of collective action. In investigating the dilemma of collective action among homeowners, this article uses the CIM to investigate the benefit-cost expectations associated with participation in the management of apartment buildings in Hong Kong.

abstract:
  Management of apartment buildings is never straightforward because of the need for collective homeowner action. Mancur Olson suggests that a rational individual will not participate in collective action which provides no positive net benefit for him or her. Based on this premise, it would seem that rationality drives homeowners to free-ride on others’ efforts and that, as a result, no collective action will take place. However, some homeowners do actively participate in housing management, and it is worthwhile to examine why some participate and others do not. Building on the wide-ranging applications of the collective interest model (CIM) in explaining political participation and environmental activism, this paper expands its relevance to the arena of housing management. The explanatory analysis which is based on the findings of a structured questionnaire survey in Hong Kong corroborates the central propositions of the CIM and provides a theoretical account of housing management activism. In brief, housing management activism is a function of beliefs about personal and group efficacy, the value of the collective good, and the selective benefits and costs of participation. These findings have far-reaching implications for the formulation of government policies promoting homeowners’ active involvement in housing management in Hong Kong and other megacities.


id: cord-301418-tj70iv4v
title: Examining structural changes in Asian offices market
author: Hui, Eddie Chi Man
date: 2012-12-27
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0264837712002426
doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.11.012
abstract:
  It is complicated to measure the effects of various economic events on office markets within a non-parameter modeling framework. In response to this issue, a non-parametric statistical method-wavelet analysis is introduced in this study. Based on this innovative technique, we not only could detect the abrupt change points with a comparatively small data sample, but also could evaluate the impact from the abrupt change points by reconstructing the wavelet coefficient/de-noising the raw data, which had never been considered in previous studies of office markets. Our empirical results suggest that the wavelet reconstruction method, to some extent, makes it easier for the detection of the existence of structural change points. More interestingly, our findings also indicate that free market economies (i.e. Hong Kong and Singapore) are mainly influenced by the effects of global events, whereas the actual (net) impact on socialist economies (i.e. Beijing and Shanghai), depends on both the openness of the economies, and the magnitude of counter domestic forces put in place.


id: cord-305421-jaaqvzfd
author: Lau, Joseph T.F.
date: 2007-02-28
txt: ./txt/cord-305421-jaaqvzfd.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-305421-jaaqvzfd.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655306011588
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2006.07.010
summary:
  Respondents were asked their perceptions about anticipated bird-to-human H5N1 outbreak in Hong Kong, including medical-related perceptions (perceived fatality, physical harm to patients, whether symptoms would be similar to those of SARS); preparedness of the local health authorities (adequacy of vaccines, medicine for treatment, and hospital infection control); susceptibility of one''s family members to avian influenza infection; and comparisons between consequences of an anticipated avian influenza epidemic with those of the SARS epidemic (in terms of infectivity, impact on oneself and his/her family, economic impacts, duration of the epidemic, and total number of people affected).

title:
  Perceptions related to human avian influenza and their associations with anticipated psychological and behavioral responses at the onset of outbreak in the Hong Kong Chinese general population

abstract:
  Background Anticipated psychological responses and perceptions of risk have not been examined prior to the outbreak of an epidemic. Methods Using a cross-sectional, telephone survey, 805 Chinese adults in Hong Kong were interviewed anonymously in November, 2005 to examine beliefs related to H5N1 avian influenza and anticipated responses. Results Of respondents, 71.4% and 52.4%, respectively, believed that bird-to-human or human-to-human H5N1 transmission would occur in the next year. In the event of a bird-to-human or human-to-human outbreak in Hong Kong, many anticipated high fatality rates (70.5% and 74.4%, respectively), permanent physical damage (52.0% and 54.9%, respectively), inadequate vaccines (50.0% and 64.4%, respectively), insufficient medicine supplies (43.7% and 54.5%, respectively), inadequate hospital infection control (35.1% and 43.3%, respectively), high susceptibility of family members contracting H5N1 (13.9% and 24.3%, respectively), and impact on oneself/family worse than those of severe acute respiratory syndrome (21.2 and 25.0%, respectively). Most anticipated at least 1 of the 7 studied stress-related responses (e.g., panic) or the adoption of at least 1 of the 5 studied preventive behavioral measures (e.g., avoiding going out). Conclusion Panic and interruption of daily routines may occur in the event of a human avian influenza outbreak. Dissemination of accurate, timely information would reduce unnecessary distress and unwanted behaviors.


id: cord-306014-tjnt01ld
author: Argyroudis, George S.
date: 2019-06-15
txt: ./txt/cord-306014-tjnt01ld.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-306014-tjnt01ld.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2019.04.052
doi: 10.1016/j.physa.2019.04.052
summary:
  Based on permutation entropy, complexity–entropy causality plane and Tsallis complexity–entropy curve, we characterize the complexity of the housing indices-both in terms of size and region-and distinguish the level of informational efficiency. We start our analysis by presenting in Fig. 1, panel (a) and (b), the Shannon Complexity-Entropy Causality Plane (CECP) for all Real Estate indices in Hong Kong, partitioned by size and location. In order to compare the results, derived by the symbolic permutation entropy, with the Hurst exponent h, we generate a time series with the use of the fractional Brownian motion. In all cases but one, the indices, measured in terms of size and region, exhibit lower permutation entropy and higher complexity, meaning that the financial crisis event affected the dynamical structure of the indices, increasing their regularity and predictability. But the Kowloon index quantifiers exhibit higher permutation entropy value denoting greater informational efficiency or less regularity and loss of complexity.

title:
  Spillover effects of Great Recession on Hong-Kong’s Real Estate Market: An analysis based on Causality Plane and Tsallis Curves of Complexity–Entropy

abstract:
  This paper investigates the impact of the sub-prime loan crisis on the Real Estate Market of Hong-Kong. Based on permutation entropy, complexity–entropy causality plane and Tsallis complexity–entropy curve, we characterize the complexity of the housing indices-both in terms of size and region-and distinguish the level of informational efficiency. By calculating the quantifiers we report that most indices exhibit a behavior equivalent to a persistent stochastic dynamics with Hurst exponents between 0.5 and 0.7. The outbreak of the crisis had changed the dynamical structure of the indices decreasing the level of randomness and increasing considerably their regularity and predictability. Only the index of the Kowloon area seems not impacted by the crisis, exhibiting higher levels of informational efficiency. The results are robust based on the utilization of two different entropy definitions: The Shannon and Tsallis-q entropy. Lastly, with the temporal evolution of the indices, we identify periods where the underlying dynamical structure of the market was impacted by certain events like the SARS epidemic and the imposition of Special Stamp Duty on housing.


id: cord-306910-qwaoe5du
title: Quarantine Wristbands, Face Masks, and Personal Freedom in Hong Kong
author: Walline, Joseph Harold
date: 2020-08-16
txt: ./txt/cord-306910-qwaoe5du.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-306910-qwaoe5du.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0736467920306065
doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.06.048
abstract: nan
summary:
  title: Quarantine Wristbands, Face Masks, and Personal Freedom in Hong Kong I write to share my perspective on responses to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as an American emergency physician living in Hong Kong who was recently required to wear a tracker wristband and subjected to mandatory home quarantine. This home quarantine policy was part of a broader infection control system in Hong Kong involving universal hospitalization of all positive COVID-19 cases, exhaustive social contact tracing, and selective quarantining of high-risk individuals. When I arrived in Hong Kong, all adults and children older than age 6 years who had traveled anywhere other than Taiwan, Macau, and mainland China during the standard incubation period were required to undergo a mandatory 14-day home quarantine (this has since been upgraded to include mandatory testing) (3). In Hong Kong, the quarantine wristbands are a sign of a functioning public health system-even if they are merely strips of paper.


id: cord-307307-b5yl88mh
author: Lau, Joseph TF
date: 2010-05-28
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-10-139
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-139
title:
  Avoidance behaviors and negative psychological responses in the general population in the initial stage of the H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: During the SARS pandemic in Hong Kong, panic and worry were prevalent in the community and the general public avoided staying in public areas. Such avoidance behaviors could greatly impact daily routines of the community and the local economy. This study examined the prevalence of the avoidance behaviors (i.e. avoiding going out, visiting crowded places and visiting hospitals) and negative psychological responses of the general population in Hong Kong at the initial stage of the H1N1 epidemic. METHODS: A sample of 999 respondents was recruited in a population-based survey. Using random telephone numbers, respondents completed a structured questionnaire by telephone interviews at the 'pre-community spread phase' of the H1N1 epidemic in Hong Kong. RESULTS: This study found that 76.5% of the respondents currently avoided going out or visiting crowded places or hospitals, whilst 15% felt much worried about contracting H1N1 and 6% showed signs of emotional distress. Females, older respondents, those having unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmissions, and those feeling worried and emotionally distressed due to H1N1 outbreak were more likely than others to adopt some avoidance behaviors. Those who perceived high severity and susceptibility of getting H1N1 and doubted the adequacy of governmental preparedness were more likely than others to feel emotionally distressed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of avoidance behaviors was very high. Cognitions, including unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmission, perceived severity and susceptibility were associated with some of the avoidance behaviors and emotional distress variables. Public health education should therefore provide clear messages to rectify relevant perceptions.


id: cord-307490-b4un4703
author: Chan, Sophia S.C.
date: 2007-09-30
txt: ./txt/cord-307490-b4un4703.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-307490-b4un4703.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16857203/
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.04.019
summary:
  title: Improving older adults'' knowledge and practice of preventive measures through a telephone health education during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong: A pilot study Objectives To assess the effectiveness of delivering a telephone health education programme dealing with anxiety levels, and knowledge and practice of measures to prevent transmission of SARS among a group of older adults with low SES. This is the first systematic study to assess the effectiveness of delivering telephone health education to older adults during the outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong. Results of the study supported that telephone health education was effective in relieving anxiety and improving knowledge of the main transmission routes of SARS in older adults, but not fostering practice of preventing SARS. This is the first systematic study to assess the effectiveness of telephone health education in improving older adults'' knowledge and practice of preventive measures during the SARS epidemic.

title:
  Improving older adults’ knowledge and practice of preventive measures through a telephone health education during the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong: A pilot study

abstract:
  Abstract Background The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong posed many challenges for health promotion activities among a group of older adults with low socio-economic status (SES). With concerns that this vulnerable group could be at higher risk of contracting the disease or spreading it to others, the implementation of health promotion activities appropriate to this group was considered to be essential during the epidemic. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of delivering a telephone health education programme dealing with anxiety levels, and knowledge and practice of measures to prevent transmission of SARS among a group of older adults with low SES. Design Pretest/posttest design. Settings Subjects were recruited from registered members of a government subsidized social service center in Hong Kong and living in low-cost housing estates. Participants The eligibility criteria were: (1) aged 55 or above; (2) able to speak Cantonese; (3) no hearing impairment, and (4) reachable by telephone. Of the 295 eligible subjects, 122 older adults completed the whole study. Methods The interviewers approached all eligible subjects by telephone during the period of 15–25 May 2003. After obtaining the participants’ verbal consent, the interviewer collected baseline data by use of a questionnaire and implemented a health education programme. A follow-up telephone call was made a week later using the same questionnaire. Results The level of anxiety was lowered (t=3.28, p<0.001), and knowledge regarding the transmission routes of droplets (p<0.001) and urine and feaces (p<0.01) were improved after the intervention. Although statistical significant difference was found in the practice of identified preventive measures before and after intervention, influence on behavioral changes needed further exploration. Conclusion The telephone health education seemed to be effective in relieving anxiety and improving knowledge of the main transmission routes of SARS in this group, but not the practice of preventing SARS. Telephone contact appears to be a practical way of providing health education to vulnerable groups when face-to-face measure is not feasible and may be useful in raising health awareness during future outbreaks of emerging infections.


id: cord-309268-sig0h723
author: Yeung, May PS
date: 2015-07-07
txt: ./txt/cord-309268-sig0h723.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-309268-sig0h723.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26148496/
doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1990-0
summary:
  title: Factors associated with uptake of influenza vaccine in people aged 50 to 64 years in Hong Kong: a case–control study This study investigates the factors associated with the uptake of influenza vaccination among adults in Hong Kong aged 50–64 years. This study aimed to find out which factors were associated with the low uptake of influenza vaccination among people aged 50-64 years in Hong Kong. The hypothesis of this study was there were differences in associated factors (variables) between those Hong Kong residents aged 50-64 years who received the influenza vaccine in 2011/12 and 2012/13, and those who did not. The majority of the cases (80.8 %) and controls (93.9 %) were not aware that they were in a group recommended by the health authority to receive influenza vaccination.

title:
  Factors associated with uptake of influenza vaccine in people aged 50 to 64 years in Hong Kong: a case–control study

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: In Hong Kong, people aged 50–64 years were added as a recommended priority group (recommended group) for influenza vaccination by the Department of Health (DH) starting from 2011/12 onwards. The coverage rate of influenza vaccination for this age group was suboptimal at 8.5 % in 2012/13. This study investigates the factors associated with the uptake of influenza vaccination among adults in Hong Kong aged 50–64 years. METHODS: A case–control study was conducted in communities by street intercept interviews from 17 July to 15 August 2013. Cases were adults aged 50–64 years who had received the influenza vaccine in 2011/12 or 2012/13, while controls were the same as the cases, except they had not received the influenza vaccine in 2011/12 or 2012/13. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the data to explore the associations between vaccination status and the variables. RESULTS: Six hundred and four respondents in total were interviewed and included in the analysis. There were 193 cases (vaccinated) and 411 controls (non-vaccinated), with a case-to-control ratio of 1:2.1. The following were strongly associated with vaccination compared to other factors: ‘eligible for free government vaccine’ (OR6.38, 95 % CI, 3.43-11.87, p < 0.001); ‘willing to receive flu vaccination for free’ (OR4.84, 95 % CI, 2.13-11.03, p < 0.001); ‘perceived having severe or moderate symptoms when contracting flu’ (OR2.90, 95 % CI, 1.21-6.97, p = 0.02), and ‘convenient to reach a vaccination location’ (OR2.87, 95 % CI, 1.06-7.74, p = 0.04). The majority of the cases (80.8 %) and controls (93.9 %) were not aware that they belonged to a recommended group for influenza vaccination and most (>80 %) were willing to be vaccinated if it was free. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to free and convenient vaccination, the perception of the severity of symptoms when contracting influenza had a comparatively strong association with influenza vaccination uptake amongst 50–64 year olds, compared to other factors.


id: cord-310337-vw4cno4p
author: Du, Yaxing
date: 2018-08-04
txt: ./txt/cord-310337-vw4cno4p.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-310337-vw4cno4p.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.08.001
doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.08.001
summary:
  title: Improving pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in high-density cities: A general framework and case study To improve the low wind velocity environment at pedestrian level in high-density cities, a general framework and detailed guidelines are needed. This study is the first time to develop such a framework, and provide detailed guidelines for improving pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in high-density cities. A flow chart of the design framework for improving the pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in a high-density city is shown in Fig. 1 . Several studies have investigated the effect of the lift-up design on improving low wind velocity environment in high-density cities. The above mentioned studies confirm that the lift-up design is a promising solution for low wind velocity environments in densely built urban areas, especially at pedestrian level. A general design framework was developed, and detailed guidelines on improving the pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in high-density cities were offered.

title:
  Improving pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in high-density cities: A general framework and case study

abstract:
  An acceptable pedestrian level wind environment is essential to maintain an enjoyable outdoor space for city residents. Low wind velocity environment can lead to uncomfortable outdoor thermal experience in hot and humid summer, and it is unable to remove the pollutants out of city canyons. However, the average wind velocity at pedestrian level is significantly lowered by closely spaced tall buildings in modern megacities. To improve the low wind velocity environment at pedestrian level in high-density cities, a general framework and detailed guidelines are needed. This study is the first time to develop such a framework, and provide detailed guidelines for improving pedestrian level low wind velocity environment in high-density cities. Additionally, a detailed review and summarisation of evaluation criteria and improvement measures are presented in this paper, which provide additional options for urban planners. To investigate the performance of the framework, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus was utilised as a case study. Results showed that pedestrian level wind comfort was greatly improved with the developed framework. The outcomes of this study can assist city planners to improve the low wind velocity environment, and can help policy makers to establish sustainable urban planning policies.


id: cord-310651-pxfwe67t
title: SARS-CoV Antibody Prevalence in All Hong Kong Patient Contacts
author: Leung, Gabriel M.
date: 2004-09-17
txt: ./txt/cord-310651-pxfwe67t.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-310651-pxfwe67t.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15498170/
doi: 10.3201/eid1009.040155
summary:
  A total of 1,068 asymptomatic close contacts of patients with severe acute respiratory (SARS) from the 2003 epidemic in Hong Kong were serologically tested, and 2 (0.19%) were positive for SARS coronavirus immunoglobulin G antibody. Serologic surveys can be based on a random sample from the total population with appropriate stratification, on serum collected for other reasons (e.g., blood donors, all hospital admissions), or on surveys of persons who resided in sites of superspreading events or who have had close contact with a confirmed SARS patient. During the epidemic, close contacts were prospectively identified by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Department of Health through standardized telephone interviews with all 1,755 confirmed SARS patients within 1 week of hospital admission (February 15-June 22, 2003).

abstract:
  A total of 1,068 asymptomatic close contacts of patients with severe acute respiratory (SARS) from the 2003 epidemic in Hong Kong were serologically tested, and 2 (0.19%) were positive for SARS coronavirus immunoglobulin G antibody. SARS rarely manifests as a subclinical infection, and at present, wild animal species are the only important natural reservoirs of the virus.


id: cord-311026-mpr3xb2a
title: COVID-19–We urgently need to start developing an exit strategy
author: Petersen, Eskild
date: 2020-04-29
txt: ./txt/cord-311026-mpr3xb2a.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-311026-mpr3xb2a.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32360552/
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.04.035
summary:
  Another approach could be to open travel from countries with good surveillance systems, transparent reporting, and few local cases where risk of importing infected cases would be low. Thus, public health capabilities for case identification and isolation must be expanded probably permanently; tools can include physical inspection or use of electronic devices, such as mobile phone-based surveillance and point of care tests as used in Taiwan, Korea and Oman, summarized in table 3. Despite the city state''s strict contact-tracing, quarantining and travel restrictions, a second wave of infections from returning residents and local transmissions saw cases spike from 100 to 1,000 in one month (SCMP 3 rd April). This initial public health response included travel bans from countries with high levels of community transmission and 14-day mandatory quarantine for all returning travelers from those countries; school closures; cancellation of gatherings of more than 100 people; and expanding testing and isolation capacity.

abstract:
  Abstract Aim The purpose of this perspective is to review the options countries have to exit the draconian “lock downs” in a carefully staged manner. Methods Experts from different countries experiencing Corona Virus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) review evidence and country specific approaches and results of their interventions. Results Three key factors are important: 1. Reintroduction from countries with ongoing community transmission; 2. The need for extensive testing capacity and widespread community testing, and 3. Adequate supply of personal protective equipment, PPE, to protect health care workers. Lifting social distancing is discussed at length. How to open manufacturing, construction and logistics. The opening og higher educational institutions and schools. The use of electronic surveillance is discussed. Conclusion Each country has to decide what is the best path forward. However, we can learn from each other and the approach is in reality very similar.


id: cord-313900-tx3m4gu4
title: Fighting COVID-19 in Hong Kong: The effects of community and social mobilization
author: Wan, Kin-Man
date: 2020-06-25
txt: ./txt/cord-313900-tx3m4gu4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-313900-tx3m4gu4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X20301819?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105055
summary:
  Considering the limited actions that the government has taken against the pandemic, we emphasize the prominent role of Hong Kong''s civil society through highlighting the strong and spontaneous mobilization of its local communities originating from their experiences during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the social unrest in 2019, as well as their doubts regarding the pandemic assessments and recommendations of the HKSAR and WHO authorities. Paradoxically, the strong and spontaneous mobilization observed in Hong Kong was a consequence of the population''s devastating memories of the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the social unrest in 2019, as well as of their skepticism of the pandemic figures, assessments and recommendations given by the authorities of HKSAR, mainland China, and the World Health Organization (WHO). In the early stages of the pandemic (January to March), the rate of support for the Chief Executive was also recorded below 20 over 100, and less than 30% of the population trusted the government and were satisfied with the police force (Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, 2020d; Ho, 2020).

abstract:
  The globalized world economy has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since early February 2020. In the midst of this global public health crisis, a prompt review of the counterinsurgencies that have occurred in different jurisdictions is helpful. This article examines the experience of Hong Kong (HKSAR), which successfully limited its number of confirmed cases to approximately 1100 until early June 2020. Considering the limited actions that the government has taken against the pandemic, we emphasize the prominent role of Hong Kong’s civil society through highlighting the strong and spontaneous mobilization of its local communities originating from their experiences during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the social unrest in 2019, as well as their doubts regarding the pandemic assessments and recommendations of the HKSAR and WHO authorities. This article suggests that the influence of civil society should not be overlooked in the context of pandemic management. (147 words)


id: cord-314381-ltil9hwl
author: Cheng, Cecilia
date: 2004-03-11
txt: ./txt/cord-314381-ltil9hwl.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-314381-ltil9hwl.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-839x.2004.00130.x
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-839x.2004.00130.x
summary:
  The present paper proposes the influence of psychological factors on people''s cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses during the SARS outbreak. Because SARS affected a number of regions, including people from both Asian and Western cultures, did individuals from different cultures perceive and cope with the crisis in distinct manners? These results suggest a link between general coping strategies and specific health behavior to avoid contracting SARS, which applies to people in areas that were and were not affected by SARS. This commentary, together with the five articles, provides valuable information on the ways in which people from different regions of the world responded affectively, cognitively, and behaviorally to the SARS outbreak. In conclusion, this special issue highlights the role of psychological factors in people''s cognitive and behavioral responses to the SARS outbreak.

title:
  The psychology behind the masks: Psychological responses to the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in different regions

abstract:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first reported in China, and spread to 29 regions, affecting over 8000 people worldwide. For the general public, the psychological impact of SARS may have been greater than the physical health danger of the disease. The present paper proposes the influence of psychological factors on people's cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses during the SARS outbreak. The various papers in this special issue of the Journal reveal how people have reacted during the SARS outbreak: People's general coping styles may be related to their health behavior during the outbreak. Cultural differences were evident in the perception of SARS, and individuals’ perceptual styles may have influenced their ability to cope with the outbreak. The way in which individuals coped with SARS‐related stressful events was different from their usual practices of managing daily stress. Individual differences in the adoption of preventive measures were related to the distinct susceptibility to several social‐cognitive biases.


id: cord-314734-ai0hz4uq
author: Hung, Ivan Fan-Ngai
date: 2020-06-12
txt: ./txt/cord-314734-ai0hz4uq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-314734-ai0hz4uq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30364-9
doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30364-9
summary:
  Thus, the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined because of an onboard outbreak of COVID-19 in February, 2020, provides an opportunity to define the shedding pattern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and patient antibody responses before and after the onset of symptoms. Participants were prospectively screened by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) of nasopharyngeal and throat swabs, and serum IgG and IgM against internal nucleoprotein and the surface spike receptor-binding protein (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 at baseline (upon entering quarantine) and on days 4, 8, and 12 of quarantine. Evidence before this study We searched PubMed on March 14, 2020, with no date restrictions, for articles in English, using the terms "Covid-19", "coronavirus", "antibody", "viral load", "cruise ship", "quarantine", "shedding", and "seroconversion". By Feb 20, 2020, 76 passengers from Hong Kong were hospitalised in Japan after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by throat swab RT-PCR, of whom two individuals died from complications of the infection (appendix).

title:
  SARS-CoV-2 shedding and seroconversion among passengers quarantined after disembarking a cruise ship: a case series

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: A cruise ship is a closed-off environment that simulates the basic functioning of a city in terms of living conditions and interpersonal interactions. Thus, the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined because of an onboard outbreak of COVID-19 in February, 2020, provides an opportunity to define the shedding pattern of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and patient antibody responses before and after the onset of symptoms. METHODS: We recruited adult (≥18 years) passengers from Hong Kong who had been on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan in February, 2020. All participants had been found to be negative for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR 4 days before disembarking and were transferred to further quarantine in a public estate in Hong Kong, where they were recruited. Participants were prospectively screened by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) of nasopharyngeal and throat swabs, and serum IgG and IgM against internal nucleoprotein and the surface spike receptor-binding protein (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 at baseline (upon entering quarantine) and on days 4, 8, and 12 of quarantine. FINDINGS: On Feb 22, 2020, 215 adults were recruited, of whom nine (4%; 95% CI 2–8) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR or serology and were hospitalised. Of these nine patients, nasopharyngeal swab RT-qPCR was positive in eight patients (89%; 57–99) at baseline. All nine patients were positive for anti-RBD IgG by day 8. Eight (89%; 57–99) were simultaneously positive for nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR and anti-RBD IgG. One patient who was positive for anti-RBD IgG and had a negative viral load had multifocal peripheral ground-glass changes on high-resolution CT that were typical of COVID-19. Five patients (56%; 27–81) with ground-glass changes on high-resolution CT were found to have higher anti-nucleoprotein-IgG OD values on day 8 and 12 and anti-RBD IgG OD value on day 12 than patients without ground-glass changes. Six (67%; 35–88) patients remained asymptomatic throughout the 14-day quarantine period. INTERPRETATION: Patients with COVID-19 can develop asymptomatic lung infection with viral shedding and those with evidence of pneumonia on imaging tend to have an increased antibody response. Positive IgG or IgM confirmed infection of COVID-19 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. A combination of RT-PCR and serology should be implemented for case finding and contact tracing to facilitate early diagnosis, prompt isolation, and treatment. FUNDING: Shaw Foundation Hong Kong; Sanming-Project of Medicine (Shenzhen); High Level-Hospital Program (Guangdong Health Commission).


id: cord-318119-h0vnfcuq
author: Lee, S. H.
date: 2013-06-15
txt: ./txt/cord-318119-h0vnfcuq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-318119-h0vnfcuq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S036054421300340X
doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.04.029
summary:
  A parametric study under various ventilation rates indicated that use of desiccant cooling system in wet markets in hot and humid Hong Kong would lead to energy and energy cost savings, as well as CO2 emission reduction amounting from 1% to 13%. Energy simulation based on the site survey results (including occupancy, lighting and small power densities and occupation patterns), average space air-conditions as indoor set-point conditions (25.2 C dry-bulb and 65.8% RH), building envelop details (Table 1) , and physical geometry of the wet-market were input to EnergyPlus for simulating the annual energy use of the major equipments. The study results revealed that use of desiccant cooling system in wet markets in hot and humid Hong Kong would lead to energy, energy cost and CO 2 emission reduction up to 13% when the ventilation rate is 20 L/s/person.

title:
  Site verification and modeling of desiccant-based system as an alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems for wet markets

abstract:
  Abstract Desiccant cooling system for active humidity control and to conserve energy has been in commercial applications for over two decades. However, its use in humid wet markets has never been examined. A gas-fired desiccant cooling system has been installed in a wet market in Hong Kong. In this study, the annual energy saving in conjunction with the use of desiccant cooling system was investigated by in-situ measurements, site surveys and simulations. The verified computer model was used for further simulations. It was found that for the use of a minimum ventilation rate of 10.3 L/s/person, the use of desiccant cooling system as compared to conventional system saved 4% of the energy and could achieve the desired space conditions. A parametric study under various ventilation rates indicated that use of desiccant cooling system in wet markets in hot and humid Hong Kong would lead to energy and energy cost savings, as well as CO2 emission reduction amounting from 1% to 13%. The savings were more evident when wet markets were designed for a ventilation rate of 20 L/s/person. Furthermore, the actual occupancy profile, and lighting and small power densities determined in this study would be useful for future studies on wet market.


id: cord-321075-cvlq4i8c
title: A spatial–temporal analysis of hotels in urban tourism destination
author: Li, Mimi
date: 2014-12-11
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431914001753
doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2014.11.005
abstract:
  This study investigates the spatial associations of urban tourism phenomena by using GIS and statistical methods to examine the relationships between hotels and land use types, attractions, transportation facilities, and the economic variables of the tertiary planning units in which the hotels are located. Hong Kong is used as an example. The study first introduces the spatial characteristics of hotels and attractions development in Hong Kong. A geographical information system is then used to map hotels and investigate the characteristics of the land use, attractions, and transport facilities around hotels. The spatial relationships are then analyzed with a set of logistic regression models. The results reveal that commercial land type and the number of attractions around hotels are significantly related to the distribution of upper-grade hotels in Hong Kong. The determinants vary over time and the spatial structure changes accordingly. The analysis is important theoretically as it enriches the methodologies for analyzing the relationships between hotels and urban structure, and for conceptualizing and identifying tourism functional zones. It is important for practitioners as it provides useful information for selecting sites for hotels.


id: cord-323190-wisaamn7
author: Law, Chi-kin
date: 2012-07-06
txt: ./txt/cord-323190-wisaamn7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-323190-wisaamn7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-505
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-505
summary:
  title: Temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides among the working age population in Hong Kong SAR: the influence of economic activity status and sex RESULTS: Our findings revealed pronounced monthly and daily temporal variations in the pattern of charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong. In addition to economic activity status, sex difference may also influence the temporal pattern of charcoal burning suicides. The present study aims to fill these gaps in the existing research by examining the temporal asymmetries in the monthly and daily distributions of charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong. In particular, the study will examine the temporal variations of charcoal burning suicides in relation to the economic activity status and sex of victims of usual working age (20-59). Thus, a total of 498 working men, 203 working women, 571 non-working men, and 307 non-working women were included in the analysis of the influence of economic activity status and sex on the temporal variation in charcoal burning suicides.

title:
  Temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides among the working age population in Hong Kong SAR: the influence of economic activity status and sex

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Charcoal burning in a sealed room has recently emerged as the second most common suicide means in Hong Kong, causing approximately 200 deaths each year. As charcoal burning suicide victims have a unique sociodemographic profile (i.e., predominantly economically active men), they may commit suicide at specific times. However, little is known about the temporal patterns of charcoal burning suicides. METHODS: Suicide data from 2001 to 2008 on victims of usual working age (20–59) were obtained from the registered death files of the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. A total of 1649 cases of charcoal burning suicide were analyzed using a two-step procedure, which first examined the temporal asymmetries in the incidence of suicide, and second investigated whether these asymmetries were influenced by sex and/or economic activity status. Poisson regression analyses were employed to model the monthly and daily patterns of suicide by economic activity status and sex. RESULTS: Our findings revealed pronounced monthly and daily temporal variations in the pattern of charcoal burning suicides in Hong Kong. Consistent with previous findings on overall suicide deaths, there was an overall spring peak in April, and Monday was the common high risk day for all groups. Although sex determined the pattern of variation in charcoal burning suicides, the magnitude of the variation was influenced by the economic activity status of the victims. CONCLUSION: The traditional classification of suicide methods as either violent or nonviolent tends to elide the temporal variations of specific methods. The interaction between sex and economic activity status observed in the present study indicates that sex should be taken into consideration when investigating the influence of economic activity status on temporal variations of suicide. This finding also suggests that suicide prevention efforts should be both time- and subgroup-specific.


id: cord-323643-lu3ngt6r
title: Post-SARS infection control in the hospital and clinic
author: Chow, C.B.
date: 2004-11-05
txt: ./txt/cord-323643-lu3ngt6r.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-323643-lu3ngt6r.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1526054204000752
doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2004.07.006
summary:
  The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak has almost mandated a re-evaluation of infection control practices in hospitals, clinics, schools and domestic environments, especially for patients with respiratory tract symptoms. PAEDIATRIC Summary The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak has almost mandated a re-evaluation of infection control practices in hospitals, clinics, schools and domestic environments, especially for patients with respiratory tract symptoms. 17 Despite great concerns, compliance to infection control precautions by community general practitioners in Hong Kong lagged behind their hospital counterparts -97.7% had not worn masks at all times, a third did not wash their hands after seeing/examining a patient and half did not wear gowns. In a study looking into factors affecting nosocomial infection in Hong Kong, it was found that all HCWs consistently used N95s or surgical masks and perceived that the inadequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, infection control training <2 h and inconsistent use of goggles, gowns, gloves and caps were significant independent risk factors for SARS infection.

abstract:
  The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak has almost mandated a re-evaluation of infection control practices in hospitals, clinics, schools and domestic environments, especially for patients with respiratory tract symptoms. Triage, early case detection followed by prompt isolation and quarantine are major preventive measures. Respiratory tract infections are the most common childhood illnesses and paediatric SARS poses special problems in diagnosis because of its non-specific presentation. The main lessons learnt from the outbreak were: (1) despite well established guidelines on infection control precautions, poor understanding of underlying principles and deficiencies in compliance are common among healthcare professionals, especially during emergencies; (2) even a slight lapse can be fatal; and (3) over-protection can be counterproductive. Hence it is important to: (1) be protected to protect others; (2) be vigilant and prepared for emerging infections; (3) be proficient and scrupulous in infection control measures; (4) be apposite and practical on personal protective equipments to ensure sustainability; and (5) be dutiful and prompt in informing of potential threats and work closely with others.


id: cord-325722-ixozph19
title: Optimal Strategies for Reducing Number of People in the Social Security System
author: Yip, Paul
date: 2020-02-18
txt: ./txt/cord-325722-ixozph19.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-325722-ixozph19.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32085532/
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17041305
summary:
  The results indicate that by tailoring measures to specific subgroups, the overall number of CSSA recipients would be reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of Hong Kong''s social security system, which has accounted for more than 16.5% of Hong Kong government expenditure in 2018, amounting to more than HKD 92 billion. It is important to consider whether the "entering approach" is indeed more effective than the "leaving approach" in reducing the number of CSSA recipients in Hong Kong. From these results, it seems that preventing people aged 20-29 from entering the CSSA system has a larger impact; that is, the "entering" approach would be more effective in reducing the number of CSSA recipients in 2014. The propose model provides empirical evidence to identify the potential target groups of people that would lead to the largest reduction in the number of the CSSA recipients in the Hong Kong Social Security System.

abstract:
  Providing social security to the population in need has become a major expenditure for many governments. Reducing the number of dependents in the social security system and maintaining a dynamic economically active population is a high priority concern for policymakers. A good understanding of the dynamics of the social security system—specifically, who enters and who exits the system—would be helpful for formulating effective interventions. Here, we made use of the data of Hong Kong’s Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), which is currently a basic welfare scheme in Hong Kong that provides supplementary payments to households that cannot support themselves financially. We proposed a stochastic model to examine the in- and out- movement in the CSSA scheme and conducted elasticity analyses. The elasticity analyses allowed us to identify the potential target groups of people that would lead to the largest reduction in the number of the CSSA recipients in the system. This analytical method can also reveal whether policies would be more effective in preventing people from entering the CSSA system or helping them leave the CSSA scheme. Our analyses suggest that targeting those aged 30–49 with children would have the largest impact. Additionally, we found that policies that aim to prevent this group from entering the CSSA system would be more effective in reducing the number of CSSA recipients compared with policies that aim to help them exit. In contrast, for the younger age group of 10–29, policies that help them leave CSSA would be more effective than policies that prevent them from entering CSSA. Providing employment for those unemployed in this younger group would be more effective. The results indicate that by tailoring measures to specific subgroups, the overall number of CSSA recipients would be reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of Hong Kong’s social security system, which has accounted for more than 16.5% of Hong Kong government expenditure in 2018, amounting to more than HKD 92 billion.


id: cord-326339-46imi33v
author: Tang, A. C. Y.
date: 2020-07-16
url: http://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.07.15.20154997v1?rss=1
doi: 10.1101/2020.07.15.20154997
title:
  Associations between Demographic Characteristics, Perceived Threat, Perceived Stress, Coping Responses and Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures among Healthcare Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey with Implications for the Control of COVID-19

abstract:
  Objectives: To investigate the associations between demographic characteristics, perceived threat, perceived stress, coping responses and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures in Chinese Healthcare students. Design: A cross-sectional survey collecting data in Hong Kong and Fujian Province of China. Self-administered questionnaires were collected via online platform in April 2020. Participants: A convenience and snowball sample of 2706 students aged 18 years or older and studying a healthcare programme in Hong Kong or Fujian. Setting: Students were recruited in tertiary education institutions/universities in Hong Kong and Putian (a prefecture-level city in eastern Fujian province). The institutions offered various healthcare programmes in degree or sub-degree levels. Main outcome measures: Compliances to social distancing and personal hygiene measures were assessed by 10-item Social Distancing Scale and 5-item Personal Hygiene Scale respectively. Path analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the compliance outcomes. Results: The participants reported high compliances to both social distancing and personal hygiene measures. Confidence to manage the current situation, wishful thinking and empathetic responding directly predicted compliance to social distancing ({beta}=-0.31, p<0.001; {beta}=0.35, p=0.015; {beta}=0.33, p<0.001 respectively) and personal hygiene measures ({beta}=-0.16, p<0.001; {beta}=0.21, p<0.001; {beta}=0.16, p<0.001 respectively). Gender, geographical location, and clinical experience were the only three demographic variables having direct and/or indirect effects on social distancing and personal hygiene measures. The final model constructed demonstrated a very good fit to the data (Chi-square X2=27.27, df=17, P=0.044; X2/df=1.61; GFI=0.998, CFI=0.997, TLI=0.992, RMSEA=0.015). Conclusions: The predictive model constructed in this study is the first one to explore factors associating with the compliance to infection control measures in healthcare students amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings suggest that students who are male, habituate in Hong Kong, have more clinical experience and weak confidence to manage the threat tend to have lower compliance to social distancing and personal hygiene measures. Wishful thinking, contrasting to previous studies, was first found to positively associate with adherence to COVID-19 control measures.


id: cord-326749-t727v0zt
author: Lee, P.
date: 2013-07-16
txt: ./txt/cord-326749-t727v0zt.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-326749-t727v0zt.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0378778813004064
doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.07.018
summary:
  This paper proposes a simulation-based method to evaluate the probability of energy saving shortfall taking into account the variations in the influential parameters, including weather conditions, occupancy, operating hours, thermostat set-point, etc., during the contract period. Empirical data is also used to develop the probability distribution functions for the identified parameters to simulate the actual yearly variations in the post-retrofit conditions. This paper aims at developing a simulation-based method to evaluate the probability of energy saving shortfall taking into account the variations in the influential parameters. Monte Carlo simulation is performed to generate a common set of post-retrofit condition data based on the PDF of the selected parameters. A risk analysis tool based on Monte Carlo simulation (@Risk) [44] was utilised to generate 10,000 common data sets of 7 input parameters for two calibrated building energy models.

title:
  Probabilistic risk assessment of the energy saving shortfall in energy performance contracting projects–A case study

abstract:
  Lack of a proper assessment method on performance risks in Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) projects is one of the reasons hindering the further development of energy service companies (ESCOs) market. This paper proposes a simulation-based method to evaluate the probability of energy saving shortfall taking into account the variations in the influential parameters, including weather conditions, occupancy, operating hours, thermostat set-point, etc., during the contract period. The proposed method involves the use of a detailed building energy simulation programme, sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Empirical data is also used to develop the probability distribution functions for the identified parameters to simulate the actual yearly variations in the post-retrofit conditions. A real case study of replacement of heat rejection system for a central chiller plant in Hong Kong is used to demonstrate the application of this probabilistic method. The result shows that the possible energy savings after a 1-year retrofit period ranges from 393,000 kW h (2.86%) to 1098,000 kW h (10.8%) with 90% statistical significance.


id: cord-327819-7p05jk1h
title: Avian Influenza: A New Pandemic Threat?
author: Trampuz, Andrej
date: 2004-04-30
txt: ./txt/cord-327819-7p05jk1h.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-327819-7p05jk1h.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15065617/
doi: 10.4065/79.4.523
summary:
  13 The nomenclature of influenza viruses includes the type of virus (A, B, or C), host of origin (excluding humans), geographical site of origin, strain number, and year of isolation, followed in parentheses by the antigenic description of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins, eg, A/chicken/Hong Kong/258/97 (H5N1). 18 Other control measures include continuous surveillance of influenza virus strains in humans and in birds, careful protection of cullers through appropriate personal protective equipment, restrictions on the movement of live poultry, and use of the human influenza vaccine to reduce the risk of coinfection in poultry workers and cullers. In 1997, the first documented direct transmission of an avian influenza virus to humans occurred in Hong Kong, when an H5N1 strain caused a severe respiratory disease in 18 previously healthy young adults, 6 of whom died. On January 23, 2004, authorities in Thailand reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza among poultry, with laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 infection in humans.

abstract:
  In December 2003, the largest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 occurred among poultry in 8 Asian countries. A limited number of human H5N1 infections have been reported from Vietnam and Thailand, with a mortality rate approaching 70%. Deaths have occurred in otherwise healthy young individuals, which is reminiscent of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. The main presenting features were fever, pneumonitis, lymphopenia, and diarrhea. Notably, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and coryza were absent. The H5N1 strains are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine but are susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors, which can be used for treatment and prophylaxis. The widespread epidemic of avian influenza in domestic birds increases the likelihood for mutational events and genetic reassortment. The threat of a future pandemic from avian influenza is real. Adequate surveillance, development of vaccines, outbreak preparedness, and pandemic influenza planning are important. This article summarizes the current knowledge on avian influenza, including the virology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of this emerging disease.


id: cord-329124-yetjd5g5
title: Challenge-driven design for public housing: The case of Hong Kong
author: Deng, Ying
date: 2016-06-30
txt: ./txt/cord-329124-yetjd5g5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-329124-yetjd5g5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263516300097
doi: 10.1016/j.foar.2016.05.001
summary:
  By synthesizing data from literature, policy documents, and empirical evidence, this research develops an evolution map for PH design in Hong Kong that is driven by seven major challenges. After decades of development, how have PH designs evolved against multiple challenges and kept abreast with the present era of sustainability, particularly in the aforementioned Asian economies that still rely considerably on PH to address housing inequity? To fill in this gap, this study is based on Hong Kong being a regional exemplar during its 60 years of PH design progress against a persistent mismatch between the high demand for housing and the intermittent shortage in land supply, among other challenges. The pressing need to decentralize the increasing population in these overcrowded urban regions ushered in a new town development model to practically implement the Ten-year Housing Program by stages.

abstract:
  Abstract Public housing (PH) has existed in Hong Kong for six decades. Previous and current challenges that have been encountered over time function as a collective driver for design progression. However, such challenges have remained under research to be able to draw useful lessons from them. To understand how this established motif can suit the sustainability-conscious era, this study uses Hong Kong as a representative case for sub-tropical compact cities by critiquing its PH design against multiple constraints. The objective of this study is to trace the historical relationships between challenges and design progress as well as to assess current and future implications of sustainability trends on PH design. By synthesizing data from literature, policy documents, and empirical evidence, this research develops an evolution map for PH design in Hong Kong that is driven by seven major challenges. Based on this map, a conceptual framework for intersecting considerations that envisages five main future prospects toward future PH design is also established.


id: cord-330206-34vgo3q5
title: Association between energy use and poor visibility in Hong Kong SAR, China
author: To, W.M.
date: 2014-04-15
txt: ./txt/cord-330206-34vgo3q5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-330206-34vgo3q5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32288045/
doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.02.062
summary:
  Hence, only Table 1 Import of fossil fuels (primary source of energy) in 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 the number of hours of reduced visibility at the Hong Kong Observatory will be used to correlate with fuel uses and in multiple regression analysis because this dataset has a much longer history of forty-one years. Bivariate correlation was performed between the visibility data recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory, the imported energy of each fossil fuel, and meteorological variables including the annual mean air temperature in C, annual mean atmospheric pressure in hPa, annual mean relative humidity in percent, annual total rainfall in mm, and the annual mean wind speed in km/hr. The monthly data of mean air temperature, mean atmospheric pressure, mean relative humidity, total rainfall recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory and mean wind speed recorded at Waglan Table 2 Bivariate correlation between visibility and the imported energy of each fossil fuel.

abstract:
  A city's reliance on energy increases when it is developed. Moreover, the combustion of fossil fuels inevitably generates air pollutants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and others. Combining with other anthropogenic air pollutants, visibility in many Asian cities including Hong Kong have deteriorated rapidly in the past decades. This paper explores the relationships between energy use, meteorological factors, and change in visibility in Hong Kong using long-term time-series data. The total use of primary energy increased from 146,700 TJ in 1971 to 1,270,865 TJ in 2011 while the number of hours of reduced visibility increased from 184 h to 1398 h during the same period of time. Bivariate correlations show that poor visibility was significantly associated with energy use and annual mean air temperature. Multiple regression analysis indicates that the burning of aviation gasoline significantly, adversely affect visibility. Results illustrate that the number of clear days in Hong Kong will decrease, in particular due to the increase in air traffic.


id: cord-330502-exmk6gmu
author: Chan, Sophia S.C.
date: 2015-01-31
txt: ./txt/cord-330502-exmk6gmu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-330502-exmk6gmu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.06.008
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.06.008
summary:
  title: A nurse-delivered brief health education intervention to improve pneumococcal vaccination rate among older patients with chronic diseases: A cluster randomized controlled trial Objective The aim of this study was to determine if an additional multi-component health education intervention increases the uptake rate of the pneumococcal vaccination among older patients with chronic diseases. Discussion: A nurse-delivered brief health education intervention was effective in increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccination among older patients with chronic diseases. Discussion: A nurse-delivered brief health education intervention was effective in increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccination among older patients with chronic diseases. This large cluster randomized controlled trial, therefore, was conducted to test the effectiveness of a nursedelivered multiple component health education intervention on the uptake rate of PPV and awareness of PPV at 3month follow up among older patients with chronic diseases in Hong Kong.

title:
  A nurse-delivered brief health education intervention to improve pneumococcal vaccination rate among older patients with chronic diseases: A cluster randomized controlled trial

abstract:
  Abstract Background The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for elders, especially those with chronic conditions. Objective The aim of this study was to determine if an additional multi-component health education intervention increases the uptake rate of the pneumococcal vaccination among older patients with chronic diseases. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted from 3 December 2007 to 7 March 2008. The clusters were the individual weeks within five Hong Kong outpatient clinics over a 10-week period. A sample of 2517 patients aged 65 or above with chronic diseases was recruited. Intervention group received a 3-min brief telephone education intervention before and a 3-min face-to-face intervention during scheduled medical appointments at the respective clinics. All subjects received standard care including health education leaflets and/or a video show at the clinics. Pneumococcal vaccination rate and awareness of the vaccination at 3-month follow up were measured. Results The vaccination rate was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (57% vs 48%; relative risk=1.20, 95% CI=1.06–1.37), but the two groups did not differ significantly in their awareness of the vaccination at 3-month follow up (65% vs 59%, relative risk=0.86, 95% CI=0.69–1.07). Discussion A nurse-delivered brief health education intervention was effective in increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccination among older patients with chronic diseases.


id: cord-330868-7ocseuz3
author: Donnelly, Christl A
date: 2003-05-24
txt: ./txt/cord-330868-7ocseuz3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-330868-7ocseuz3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12781533/
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13410-1
summary:
  Public-health interventions included encouragement to report to hospital rapidly after the onset of clinical symptoms, contact tracing for confirmed and suspected cases, and quarantining, monitoring, and restricting the travel of contacts. Public-health interventions included encouragement to report to hospital rapidly after the onset of clinical symptoms, contact tracing for confirmed and suspected cases, and quarantining, monitoring, and restricting the travel of contacts. Key epidemiological determinants of the magnitude and timescale of the epidemic (figure 1) include the interval between infection and onset of symptoms and between onset and hospital admission, the degree and duration of the infectiousness of the agent, and the extent of contact and mixing between infectious and susceptible people enabling transmission of the virus. If ␥ distribution is assumed, the estimated distributions and case fatality rate varied as a function of patients'' age, but not the time from onset to admission (figure 2).

title:
  Epidemiological determinants of spread of causal agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Health authorities worldwide, especially in the Asia Pacific region, are seeking effective public-health interventions in the continuing epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We assessed the epidemiology of SARS in Hong Kong. METHODS: We included 1425 cases reported up to April 28, 2003. An integrated database was constructed from several sources containing information on epidemiological, demographic, and clinical variables. We estimated the key epidemiological distributions: infection to onset, onset to admission, admission to death, and admission to discharge. We measured associations between the estimated case fatality rate and patients’age and the time from onset to admission. FINDINGS: After the initial phase of exponential growth, the rate of confirmed cases fell to less than 20 per day by April 28. Public-health interventions included encouragement to report to hospital rapidly after the onset of clinical symptoms, contact tracing for confirmed and suspected cases, and quarantining, monitoring, and restricting the travel of contacts. The mean incubation period of the disease is estimated to be 6.4 days (95% Cl 5.2–7.7). The mean time from onset of clinical symptoms to admission to hospital varied between 3 and 5 days, with longer times earlier in the epidemic. The estimated case fatality rate was 13.2% (9.8–16.8) for patients younger than 60 years and 43.3% (35.2–52.4) for patients aged 60 years or older assuming a parametric γ distribution. A non-parametric method yielded estimates of 6.8% (4.0–9.6) and 55.0% (45.3–64.7), respectively. Case clusters have played an important part in the course of the epidemic. INTERPRETATION: Patients’age was strongly associated with outcome. The time between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital did not alter outcome, but shorter intervals will be important to the wider population by restricting the infectious period before patients are placed in quarantine. Published online May 7, 2003 http://image.thelancet.com/extras/03art4453web.pdf


id: cord-331244-zaguyxm5
title: Confronting the avian influenza threat: vaccine development for a potential pandemic
author: Stephenson, Iain
date: 2004-07-30
txt: ./txt/cord-331244-zaguyxm5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-331244-zaguyxm5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1473309904011053
doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(04)01105-3
summary:
  In clinical trials, conventional surfaceantigen influenza virus vaccines produced from avian viruses have proved poorly immunogenic in immunologically naive populations. In clinical trials, conventional surfaceantigen influenza virus vaccines produced from avian viruses have proved poorly immunogenic in immunologically naive populations. The main antigenic determinants of influenza A and B viruses are two surface glycoproteins: the neuraminidase and the haemagglutinin, both capable of eliciting immune responses in human beings. Pandemic influenza viruses arise by this process of "antigenic shift", when a virus with a new haemagglutinin subtype emerges and spreads efficiently in a naive human population. 14 These reassortant viruses have haemagglutinin receptor-binding sequences potentially capable of human infection, suggesting that new viruses may emerge directly from the avian pool. Improved understanding of the antigenic and molecular associations between potential pandemic strains of same subtype Improved understanding of immunogenicity against drifted avian influenza strains is required as the ability to generate broad crossprotective immunity is desirable in vaccine candidate.

abstract:
  Sporadic human infection with avian influenza viruses has raised concern that reassortment between human and avian subtypes could generate viruses of pandemic potential. Vaccination is the principal means to combat the impact of influenza. During an influenza pandemic the immune status of the population would differ from that which exists during interpandemic periods. An emerging pandemic virus will create a surge in worldwide vaccine demand and new approaches in immunisation strategies may be needed to ensure optimum protection of unprimed individuals when vaccine antigen may be limited. The manufacture of vaccines from pathogenic avian influenza viruses by traditional methods is not feasible for safety reasons as well as technical issues. Strategies adopted to overcome these issues include the use of reverse genetic systems to generate reassortant strains, the use of baculovirusexpressed haemagglutinin or related non-pathogenic avian influenza strains, and the use of adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity. In clinical trials, conventional surfaceantigen influenza virus vaccines produced from avian viruses have proved poorly immunogenic in immunologically naive populations. Adjuvanted or whole-virus preparations may improve immunogenicity and allow sparing of antigen.


id: cord-331835-nuhrd92z
author: Hung, Kevin K. C.
date: 2018-11-27
txt: ./txt/cord-331835-nuhrd92z.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-331835-nuhrd92z.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30482214/
doi: 10.1186/s12992-018-0438-6
summary:
  title: The role of the hotel industry in the response to emerging epidemics: a case study of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong METHODS: This case study focuses on the epidemic outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong, and the subsequent guidelines published by the health authority in relation to the hotel industry in Hong Kong which provide the backbone for discussion. This case study will use the example of the Metropole Hotel in Hong Kong in the international spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, and the effect of the government mandated quarantine of the Metropark Hotel during the swine flu 2009 in Hong Kong. After the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong the health authority established the Guidelines for Hotels in Preventing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) [24] 

title:
  The role of the hotel industry in the response to emerging epidemics: a case study of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: The global travel and tourism industry has been rapidly expanding in the past decades. The traditional focus on border screening, and by airline and cruise industries may be inadequate due to the incubation period of an infectious disease. This case study highlights the potential role of the hotel industry in epidemic preparedness and response. METHODS: This case study focuses on the epidemic outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong, and the subsequent guidelines published by the health authority in relation to the hotel industry in Hong Kong which provide the backbone for discussion. RESULTS: The Metropole Hotel hastened the international spread of the 2003 SARS outbreak by the index case infecting visitors from Singapore, Vietnam, Canada as well as local people via close contact with the index case and the environmental contamination. The one-week quarantine of more than 300 guests and staff at the Metropark Hotel during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu exposed gaps in the partnership with the hotel industry. The subsequent guidelines for the hotel industry from the Centre of Health Protection focused largely on the maintenance of hygiene within the hotel premises. CONCLUSION: Positive collaborations may bring about effective preparedness across the health and the tourism sectors for future epidemics. Regular hygiene surveillance at hotel facilities, and developing coordination mechanism for impending epidemics on the use of screening, swift reporting and isolation of infected persons may help mitigate the impact of future events. Preparedness and contingency plans for infectious disease control for the hotel industry requires continuous engagement and dialogue.


id: cord-332563-oo8wler1
author: Chung, Pak-Kwong
date: 2017-07-28
txt: ./txt/cord-332563-oo8wler1.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-332563-oo8wler1.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4608-x
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4608-x
summary:
  BACKGROUND: This study examined the effectiveness of a theoretical framework that integrates self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the use of facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza among Hong Kong older adults. At Time 1, older adults (N = 141) completed self-report measures of SDT (perceived autonomy support from senior center staff, autonomous motivation for influenza prevention) and TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention for influenza prevention) constructs with respect to facemask used to prevent infection. Building on an integrated model of SDT and TPB [22, 23, 27] , we tested effects among perceived autonomy support, autonomous motivation, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, and behavior for facemask wearing during peak influenza season among elderly people in Hong Kong.

title:
  The process by which perceived autonomy support predicts motivation, intention, and behavior for seasonal influenza prevention in Hong Kong older adults

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: This study examined the effectiveness of a theoretical framework that integrates self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the use of facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza among Hong Kong older adults. METHODS: Data were collected at two time points in the winter in Hong Kong, during which influenza is most prevalent. At Time 1, older adults (N = 141) completed self-report measures of SDT (perceived autonomy support from senior center staff, autonomous motivation for influenza prevention) and TPB (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention for influenza prevention) constructs with respect to facemask used to prevent infection. Two weeks later, at Time 2, participants’ acceptance of a facemask to prevent influenza in the presence of an experimenter with flu-like symptoms was recorded. RESULTS: Path analysis found that perceived autonomy support of senior center staff was positively and significantly linked to autonomous motivation for facemask use, which, in turn, was positively related to intentions to wear facemasks through the mediation of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. However, the effect of intention on facemask use was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Results generally support the proposed framework and the findings of previous studies with respect to intention, but the non-significant intention-behavior relationship may warrant future research to examine the reasons for older adults not to wear facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza despite having positive intentions to do so.


id: cord-334612-lxqcvqca
title: Sars, preschool routines and children’s behaviour: Observations from preschools in Hong Kong
author: Rao, Nirmala
date: 2006
txt: ./txt/cord-334612-lxqcvqca.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-334612-lxqcvqca.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03168205
doi: 10.1007/bf03168205
summary:
  This paper considers the influence of the SARS epidemic on children''s routines and behaviour when preschools re-opened, after a six-week closure. Items on the survey fell into 6 categories including: Information about the preschool and children (21 questions); Routines before the SARS outbreak (4 questions); Learning during School Closure (2 questions); Preparing the kindergarten for re-opening (2 questions); Students return to kindergartens (18 questions); Lessons from SARS (4 questions); and Demographic information about the observers. The 18 items on Students'' return to kindergartens included questions on Daily routines (3 questions); Health issues (2 questions); Social Interaction among children (6 questions); Preschool Management (3 questions); and School Holidays (4 questions). During the SARS outbreak, the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Hong Kong Government issued a curriculum for children ranging in age from 3-6 years. As mentioned earlier the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Hong Kong Government developed a programme for preschool children on SARS.

abstract:
  All schools in Hong Kong were closed in April 2003 to prevent the spread of SARS. This paper considers the influence of the SARS epidemic on children’s routines and behaviour when preschools re-opened, after a six-week closure. Observations were made in 20 kindergartens and principals of another 10 kindergartens completed questionnaires. The influence of SARS was evident in all preschools, be it through teachers and students wearing masks, notices on hand washing or the provision of alcohol dispensers for hand disinfection. The outbreak impacted noticeably upon children’s routines and social exchanges. In all schools, physical contact among children and sharing of food were not allowed. Children were also prohibited from talking to their peers when they had removed their masks. The SARS outbreak provided us a “natural experiment” to consider the influence of epidemics on preschools.


id: cord-335644-gt1ey9wz
author: Wang, Weiwen
date: 2018-02-15
txt: ./txt/cord-335644-gt1ey9wz.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-335644-gt1ey9wz.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.12.018
doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.12.018
summary:
  This study is devoted to addressing this knowledge gap by cross-comparisons of field measurements, wind tunnel tests, and large-eddy simulations (LES) under neutral and unstable conditions. When thermal conditions, specifically unstable stratification, are considered in ventilation, there will be additional challenges: First, a larger model domain is required to catch the larger turbulent structures in unstable simulations than in the neutral condition, while the grid size has to be kept small to sufficiently resolve the street-level air flows [19] . The objective of this study is to demonstrate the knowledge gap between current practices and reality by comparing wind tunnel test results, field measurements, and a pair of LES experiments in Hong Kong, and to propose possible adaptations for future AVA practices based on the comparative results and knowledge of atmospheric boundaries under various conditions. In this case study, we cross-compare pedestrian-level VR taken from field measurements, wind tunnel tests, and a pair of LES experiments in a high-density area of Hong Kong.

title:
  Air ventilation assessment under unstable atmospheric stratification — A comparative study for Hong Kong

abstract:
  In most current air ventilation assessment (AVA) studies, a simple neutral assumption that does not consider thermal effects is adopted, particularly for numerical simulation practices. With statistics of daytime observations during summer in Hong Kong as an example, this study demonstrates that neutral atmospheric boundary conditions occur with a very low probability, which implies that current practices are indeed far away from reality. This study is devoted to addressing this knowledge gap by cross-comparisons of field measurements, wind tunnel tests, and large-eddy simulations (LES) under neutral and unstable conditions. It is found that LES-computed velocity ratios under unstable conditions are in line with field measurements, while results of simulations under neutral conditions are close to those of wind tunnel tests. Enhanced vertical mixing due to surface heating produces improved ventilation performance in the unstable case. The neutral assumption tends to underestimate pedestrian-level velocity ratios compared to a diabatic condition; hence it is deemed conservative when it is adopted in AVA practices. Moreover, stronger wind direction variance under unstable conditions results in weaker correlation between velocity ratios and frontal area indices than neutral conditions, which implies that street orientations become less important in ventilation under unstable conditions.


id: cord-336742-42ebj3gi
author: Demmler, Gail J
date: 2003-07-31
txt: ./txt/cord-336742-42ebj3gi.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-336742-42ebj3gi.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1045187003000566
doi: 10.1016/s1045-1870(03)00056-6
summary:
  The disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), spread quickly and caused numerous deaths, as well as public panic. The first report of the new disease, given the name "severe acute respiratory syndrome" (SARS), was received by WHO on February 11 from the Chinese Ministry of Health, which documented that 305 cases and 5 deaths had occurred in the Guangdon Province. 2, 5 By March 5, secondary probable SARS cases were identified among healthcare workers in Hanoi, and at the urging of Dr. Urbani and his colleagues, Vietnam closed the hospital to new patients and visitors on March 11. A cluster of cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore: Clinical features of index patient and initial contacts Identification of a novel coronavirus in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

title:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): a review of the history, epidemiology, prevention, and concerns for the future

abstract:
  Abstract During the first part of 2003, the world experienced the first epidemic of the 21st century with the emergence of a new and readily transmissible disease. The disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), spread quickly and caused numerous deaths, as well as public panic. This article provides a brief review of the initial history of the epidemiology, as well as of the clinical definition, occurrence in the pediatric population, etiology, prevention, drug studies, and considerations for the future.


id: cord-337546-60xq8dpg
title: Weaponized Interdependence: China''s Economic Statecraft and Social Penetration against Taiwan
author: Chang, Chia-Chien
date: 2020-12-31
txt: ./txt/cord-337546-60xq8dpg.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-337546-60xq8dpg.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32287397/
doi: 10.1016/j.orbis.2020.02.002
abstract: nan
summary:
  Just as great powers did in history, China has been engaging in the "5M" approach of economic statecraft and social penetration against Taiwan: money, manpower exchange, misinformation, mooching (cultivating compradors), and magnifying (propagating the "Chinese Dream"). For example, although the data shows that in recent years Taiwan''s economic situation has been relatively stable, compared with most of the countries in the region, as well as globally, still a substantial portion of Taiwanese population think that the ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) and incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen did not handle the economy or cross-Strait relations well. 38 China has launched its social penetration operations through those channels, and two are most influential: religious networks established by local temples and quasiillegal organizations, and various "cross-Strait exchange groups." Traditionally, China used to manipulate these two channels to penetrate the whole Taiwanese society, including both the younger generation and the grassroots.


id: cord-338054-n2r4pzan
author: Lau, Joseph TF
date: 2007-03-15
txt: ./txt/cord-338054-n2r4pzan.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-338054-n2r4pzan.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17359545/
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-7-18
summary:
  Respondents were asked how likely they would be to adopt the following preventive behaviors if a local human-to-human H5N1 outbreak (defined as "if 2-3 new human-to-human transmission of H5N1 cases were to be reported in Hong Kong") were to occur: face mask use in public venues, increased frequency of handwashing, avoidance of eating poultry, declaration of influenzalike illness (ILI) symptoms at border health checkpoints, the seeking of medical consultation immediately with the onset of a fever, face mask use in public venues when having ILI symptoms and compliance with any quarantine policies. Respondents were asked about perceptions related to human-to-human H5N1 transmission, including perceived modes of transmission (whether human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus could occur via respiratory droplets, bodily contact, contaminated objects, eating well-cooked poultry), perceived susceptibility to H5N1 in different groups of people (self, family members, children, adults, older people, health care workers, food handlers, food vendors and the general public), perceived chance of having a major outbreak in Hong Kong in the next 12 months and perceived efficacy of various prevention measures (quarantine of infected people, face mask use in public venues, frequent handwashing, home disinfection, mass extermination of poultry).

title:
  Anticipated and current preventive behaviors in response to an anticipated human-to-human H5N1 epidemic in the Hong Kong Chinese general population

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: The prevalence of self-reported preventive behaviors in response to an anticipated local human-to-human H5N1 transmission outbreak and factors associated with such behaviors have not been examined. METHODS: A random, anonymous, cross-sectional telephone survey of 503 Hong Kong Chinese adults. RESULTS: The public in Hong Kong is likely to adopt self-protective behaviors (e.g., wearing face mask in public venues (73.8%), increasing the frequency of handwashing (86.7%)) and behaviors that protect others (e.g., wearing face masks when experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI, 92.4%), immediately seeking medical consultation (94.2%), making declarations when crossing the border with ILI (87.1%), complying to quarantine policies (88.3%)). Multivariate analyses indicated that factors related to age, full-time employment, perceived susceptibility, perceived efficacy of preventive measures, perceived higher fatality as compared to SARS, perceived chance of a major local outbreak, and being worried about self/family members contracting the virus were significantly associated with the inclination to adopt self-protective measures. Similar analyses showed that education level, variables related to perceived efficacy, perceived major local outbreak and such were significantly associated with various behaviors directed towards protecting others. CONCLUSION: In the event of a human-to-human H5N1 outbreak, the public in Hong Kong is likely to adopt preventive measures that may help contain the spread of the virus in the community.


id: cord-339070-jnmogy7s
title: Influenza associated mortality in the subtropics and tropics: Results from three Asian cities
author: Yang, Lin
date: 2011-11-08
txt: ./txt/cord-339070-jnmogy7s.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-339070-jnmogy7s.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X11014903
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.071
summary:
  In this study, we applied a standardized modeling strategy to the mortality and virology data from three Asian cities: subtropical Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and tropical Singapore, to estimate the disease burden of influenza in these cities. Mortality data for each city were obtained from Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department (coded according to the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision, ICD-10), Guangzhou Department of Health (coded in ICD-10) and Singapore Registry of Births and Deaths (coded in ICD-9), respectively. The present study adopted a standardized modeling approach to show that the overall influenza burden was comparable between the two subtropical cities Guangzhou and Hong Kong, but lower in the tropical Singapore. Annual excess all-cause mortality rates associated with influenza (per 100,000 population) between Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore, all-ages group.

abstract:
  Influenza has been well documented to significantly contribute to winter increase of mortality in the temperate countries, but its severity in the subtropics and tropics was not recognized until recently and geographical variations of disease burden in these regions remain poorly understood. In this study, we applied a standardized modeling strategy to the mortality and virology data from three Asian cities: subtropical Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and tropical Singapore, to estimate the disease burden of influenza in these cities. We found that influenza was associated with 10.6, 13.4 and 8.3 deaths per 100,000 population in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore, respectively. The annual rates of excess deaths in the elders were estimated highest in Guangzhou and lowest in Singapore. The excess death rate attributable to A/H1N1 subtype was found slightly higher than the rates attributable to A/H3N2 during the study period of 2004–2006 based on the data from Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Our study revealed a geographical variation in the disease burden of influenza in these subtropical and tropical cities. These results highlight a need to explore the determinants for severity of seasonal influenza.


id: cord-340993-qb9jlt9f
title: Threat to democracy: Physical and mental health impact of democracy movement in Hong Kong
author: Kai Hou, Wai
date: 2015-11-01
txt: ./txt/cord-340993-qb9jlt9f.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-340993-qb9jlt9f.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26232750/
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.07.005
summary:
  Respondents gave their informed consent and reported personal, social, and economic resource loss since the Umbrella Movement (Conservation of Resources-Evaluation), current anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and self-rated health (1=very good, 4=very bad). Multivariable regressions revealed that personal and social resource loss was associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms and greater odds of "very poor" health (adjusted odds ratios/incidence rate ratios=5–102%), independent of lower education level and income and being unmarried. Social or political unrest has the power of depleting internal and external resources and contributes to poorer mental and physical health (Hall et al., 2014; Hobfoll, 1998 Hobfoll, , 2009 , but very few studies to date have reported the psychological and health impact Table 2 Adjusted odds ratios/incidence rate ratios for higher anxiety and depressive symptoms and poorer self-rated health by personal, social, and economic resource loss, socioeconomic resources (education, income, employment status, and marital status), and other demographics.

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: This study examined the prevalence and critical predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms and self-rated health, following the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Methods: Random digit dialing recruited a population-representative sample of 1208 Chinese Hong Kong citizens (mean age=46.89 years; 63% female) in the first two weeks of February 2015. Respondents gave their informed consent and reported personal, social, and economic resource loss since the Umbrella Movement (Conservation of Resources-Evaluation), current anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and self-rated health (1=very good, 4=very bad). RESULTS: A total of 47.35% (95% CI=44.55, 50.17) respondents reported moderate/severe anxiety symptoms and 14.4% (95% CI=12.54, 16.50) reported moderate/severe depressive symptoms; 9.11% (95% CI=7.61, 10.86) reported “poor” or “very poor” health. Multivariable regressions revealed that personal and social resource loss was associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms and greater odds of “very poor” health (adjusted odds ratios/incidence rate ratios=5–102%), independent of lower education level and income and being unmarried. LIMITATIONS: This study was cross-sectional in nature and thus could not determine causality from the associations between resource loss and outcome variables. Second, the telephone survey relied on self-reports; response bias and social desirability could influence respondents' answers and discount data validity. Third, potential confounders such as preexisting mental and physical health issues and concurrent predictors like exposure to the Umbrella Movement were not assessed. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first studies following any recent political movement (e.g., The Arab Spring) to quantify distress and the associated correlates of distress among affected citizens. Perceived psychosocial resource losses were critical predictors of poor outcomes.


id: cord-342989-9ie8mx4l
author: Lam, Simon Ching
date: 2020-07-15
txt: ./txt/cord-342989-9ie8mx4l.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-342989-9ie8mx4l.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00686
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00686
summary:
  However, what remains largely absent from the literature to date, is an examination of actual pandemic situations and if perceived risk (vulnerability and fear of contracting) and mitigations (effectiveness of face masks and knowledge of COVID-19) are associated with mental health difficulties, such as depression, in physicians and nurses. Among the health beliefs, feeling susceptible and fearful of contracting COVID-19, as well as difficulty obtaining face masks are associated with higher risk of depression ( Table 4) . To our knowledge, we are the first group to report the mental health status, specifically depression, among a large sample of HCWs across both the pandemic and non-pandemic regions of China as well as Hong Kong and to examine the relevance of perceived risk and protection from infection in relation to depression.

title:
  Perceived Risk and Protection From Infection and Depressive Symptoms Among Healthcare Workers in Mainland China and Hong Kong During COVID-19

abstract:
  Psychological health among healthcare workers (HCWs) has become a major concern since the COVID-19 outbreak. HCWs perceived risks of contracting COVID-19, in relation to depression were investigated. It was hypothesized that perceived high risk of contracting COVID-19 (close contact with cases, inadequate provision of personal protective equipment, insufficient infection control training, and presence of symptoms) would be significant predictors of depression. Our cross-sectional survey was completed by HCWs across three regions (Hubei, Guangdong, Hong Kong) between March 9 to April 9 2020 using convenience sampling. Depression was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Prevalence of depression was 50.4% (95% CI: 44.5-56.2), 15.1% (10.1-21.9) and 12.9% (10.3-16.2) for HCWs in Hong Kong, Hubei and Guangdong, respectively. The strongest significant risk factors for depression, after adjustment, were HCWs who reported the greatest extent of feeling susceptible to contracting COVID-19 and those who reported the greatest difficulty obtaining face masks. HCWs whose family/peers greatly encouraged face mask use had lower prevalence of depression. Access to adequate supplies of personal protective equipment is essential for the psychological health of HCWs working in stressful environments, through potentially easing their perceptions of vulnerability to COVID-19.


id: cord-343941-nfdplszh
author: Wong, Lai-yi
date: 2013-04-02
txt: ./txt/cord-343941-nfdplszh.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-343941-nfdplszh.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-012-1269-6
doi: 10.1007/s11655-012-1269-6
summary:
  OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a herbal formula in the prevention of influenza or influenza-like syndrome among elderies residing in old-people''s home in Hong Kong. METHODS: In ten old people''s home or community centres in New Territories, Hong Kong, 740 eligible subjects agreed to join the study and were randomized to receive a herbal formula or a placebo on alternate days over 8 weeks. RESULTS: Seventy-two participants developed influenza-like-symptoms but none of them was proven influenza in their nasopharyngeal swabs, 40 of these patients belonged to the herbal group and 32 to the placebo group, without significant differences between groups. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the herbal preparation previously used for the prevention of SARS against endemic influenza among a group of at risk elderly people. In each old-age home or elderly centre the participants were randomized separately within the vaccinated group or non-vaccinated group to receive either herbal preparation or placebo.

title:
  A herbal formula for prevention of influenza-like syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a herbal formula in the prevention of influenza or influenza-like syndrome among elderies residing in old-people’s home in Hong Kong. The secondary objectives are to investigate the quality of life (QOL) and symptomology changes among the herbal users and to evaluate the safety of this formula. METHODS: In ten old people’s home or community centres in New Territories, Hong Kong, 740 eligible subjects agreed to join the study and were randomized to receive a herbal formula or a placebo on alternate days over 8 weeks. Among those 740 participants, 113 had provided blood samples for immunological assessments before and after the study drug. Assessments were done at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Participants were instructed to keep a daily record of body temperature and any symptoms as sore throat, myalgia, running nose or cough, and to report to assessor accordingly. Those reporting body temperature of 37.8 °C and above would be visited and a proper nasopharyngeal swab be taken for viral study. RESULTS: Seventy-two participants developed influenza-like-symptoms but none of them was proven influenza in their nasopharyngeal swabs, 40 of these patients belonged to the herbal group and 32 to the placebo group, without significant differences between groups. The difference on the changes in QOL between the two groups was not statistically significant. However, in the immunological study, the natural killer cell absolute count was significantly increased in the herbal group compared with the placebo group (463±253 vs 413±198, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The herbal preparation was not effective compared with placebo in the prevention of influenza-like syndrome. It was however safe and possibly supporting immunological responses.


id: cord-348129-tph0d5fl
author: De Deyn, Michelle Lee Zhi Qing
date: 2020-06-25
txt: ./txt/cord-348129-tph0d5fl.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-348129-tph0d5fl.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.058
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.058
abstract: nan
summary:
  Based on news reports and official press releases, it is evident that many Asian countries, which have successfully contained the first wave of infections, are now experiencing a second wave of imported cases from abroad and worsening local transmission 2 . After the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV) outbreak, Singapore authorities had put in place a multi-ministry taskforce and a Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) framework that enables the whole-of-government to respond immediately to any disease outbreak and guide interventions 5 . While Hong Kong saw her first imported case on 22 January 2020 and had taken similar pre-emptive measures prior to this 6 . The role of community-wide wearing of face mask for control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic due to SARS-CoV-2 Confirmed imported case of novel coronavirus infection in Singapore; multi-ministry taskforce ramps up precautionary measures

title:
  A tale of two cities: a comparison of Hong Kong and Singapore''s early strategies for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)


id: cord-348636-qqcb85uk
title: Bayesian Analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: The 2003 Hong Kong Epidemic
author: Lekone, Phenyo E.
date: 2008-07-09
txt: ./txt/cord-348636-qqcb85uk.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-348636-qqcb85uk.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200710431
doi: 10.1002/bimj.200710431
summary:
  This paper analyzes data arising from a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong in 2003 involving 1755 cases. Applying the method to SARS data from Hong Kong, a value of 3.88 with a posterior standard deviation of 0.09 was estimated for the basic reproduction number. A reduction in the transmission parameter during the course of the epidemic forced the effective reproduction number to cross the threshold value of one, seven days after control interventions were introduced. These parameters were obtained using maximum likelihood estimation methods assuming a gamma distribution for each period with allowance for censoring due to incomplete observation. A simple model that captures the form of distributions of epidemiological determinants has been introduced to estimate the basic reproduction number and to assess the effect of control interventions introduced during the course of the epidemic.

abstract:
  This paper analyzes data arising from a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong in 2003 involving 1755 cases. A discrete time stochastic model that uses a back‐projection approach is proposed. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are developed for estimation of model parameters. The algorithm is further extended to integrate numerically over unobserved variables of the model. Applying the method to SARS data from Hong Kong, a value of 3.88 with a posterior standard deviation of 0.09 was estimated for the basic reproduction number. An estimate of the transmission parameter at the beginning of the epidemic was also obtained as 0.149 with a posterior standard deviation of 0.003. A reduction in the transmission parameter during the course of the epidemic forced the effective reproduction number to cross the threshold value of one, seven days after control interventions were introduced. At the end of the epidemic, the effective reproduction number was as low as 0.001 suggesting that the epidemic was brought under control by the intervention measures introduced. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


id: cord-350031-2c9x55hx
author: Zhao, Sheng Zhi
date: 2020-09-14
txt: ./txt/cord-350031-2c9x55hx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-350031-2c9x55hx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32937929/
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186692
summary:
  Compliance with social distancing and staying-at-home, stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders-2), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) were collected. The association of mental health symptoms including stress, anxiety and depression with the number of measures adopted, number of days stayed-at-home and perceived effectiveness and compliance were calculated by multivariable linear (for stress) and logistic (for anxiety and depression) regressions. Effect modifications by age (18-59, 65+ years) and education attainment (primary or below, secondary, and tertiary) on the associations between mental health symptoms, stay-at-home and compliance with social distancing were assessed using the interaction terms. Perceived effectiveness and compliance with social distancing measures were associated with lower stress levels and risks for anxiety and depressive symptoms (all p < 0.001). We have provided the first evidence on compliance with non-pharmaceutical community containment strategies including stay-at-home and social distancing and their associations with mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

title:
  Social Distancing Compliance under COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health Impacts: A Population-Based Study

abstract:
  The success of public health measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic relies on population compliance. We analyzed compliance with social distancing and its associations with mental health. The Hong Kong COVID-19 Health Information Survey was conducted from 9–23 April 2020 on 1501 adults randomly sampled for landline telephone interviews (n = 500) and online surveys (n = 1001). Compliance with social distancing and staying-at-home, stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders-2), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2) were collected. The associations between mental health symptoms and compliance were examined by multivariable regression models. Of the 1501 respondents (52.5% female, 72.3% aged 18–59 years), 74.2%, 72.7%, and 59.7% reported avoiding going out, going to crowded places, and attending social gatherings of more than four people, respectively. Most respondents had stayed-at-home for at least four of the past seven days (58.4%; mean 4.12, Standard Deviation 2.05). Adoption, perceived effectiveness, and perceived compliance with social distancing were associated with lower stress levels and less anxiety and depressive symptoms (all p < 0.01). However, more days stayed-at-home were associated with more depressive symptoms (adjusted Odds Ratio 1.09; 95%Confidence Interval 1.00, 1.18). The long-term psychological impact in relation to social distancing and staying-at-home requires further investigation.


id: cord-350328-wu1ygt6w
title: SARS: responding to an unknown virus
author: Tambyah, P. A.
date: 2004-07-14
txt: ./txt/cord-350328-wu1ygt6w.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-350328-wu1ygt6w.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15252720/
doi: 10.1007/s10096-004-1175-8
summary:
  The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infection caused by a novel coronavirus which first appeared in southern China at the end of 2002. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly recognized coronavirus infection that emerged in southern China [1] with subsequent global spread to 29 countries [2] [3] [4] [5] . The newly infected individuals traveled onward to their homes or next destinations in the USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and Ireland sparking off epidemics of varying degrees of severity in each of those countries, mainly in hospitals but also in their respective communities. A directive had gone out from the Hong Kong Department of Health on 21 February 2003 to maintain strict infection control with droplet precautions for all cases of "atypical" community-acquired pneumonia because of concerns that highly pathogenic avian influenza might be easily transmissible from person to person. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore: clinical features of index patient and initial contacts

abstract:
  The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infection caused by a novel coronavirus which first appeared in southern China at the end of 2002. In early 2003, through a single incident, it spread to Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and Vietnam. For busy clinicians in large public hospitals, the response to the virus was initially based on ensuring a high level of protection for staff. However, as the epidemic progressed and more information became available about the virus, procedures were rationalized and the virus is currently under control worldwide. There are, however, numerous unanswered questions concerning super-spreading events, the modes of transmission of the virus and, perhaps most importantly, the rapid detection of the virus early in the course of disease. These issues need to be addressed in case the virus becomes more widespread in the near future.


id: cord-350861-kxwgpymq
title: H5N1 Outbreaks and Enzootic Influenza
author: Webster, Robert G.
date: 2006-01-17
txt: ./txt/cord-350861-kxwgpymq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-350861-kxwgpymq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16494709/
doi: 10.3201/eid1201.051024
summary:
  The highly pathogenic H5 virus reassorted its genome with those of other influenza viruses in aquatic birds, and the resulting viruses spread to domestic poultry farms, humans, and occasionally to pigs. Multiple opportunities exist for control of highly pathogenic avian influenza: 1) prevent contact between wild and domestic poultry by use of screened poultry houses and treated water; 2) prevent contact between domestic waterfowl and gallinaceous poultry by use of screened houses and treated water and by exclusion of waterfowl from "wet markets"; 3) eradicate H5/H7 influenza viruses from gallinaceous poultry by culling or the use of vaccines that prevent disease and transmission; 4) prevent contact between poultry, pigs, and humans and make vaccines and antiviral drugs available. After late 2002, when H5N1 viruses had killed waterfowl in Kowloon Park in Hong Kong, most avian H5N1 isolates isolated in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia were highly pathogenic to chickens and domestic ducks.

abstract:
  Ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in migratory waterfowl, domestic poultry, and humans in Asia during the summer of 2005 present a continuing, protean pandemic threat. We review the zoonotic source of highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses and their genesis from their natural reservoirs. The acquisition of novel traits, including lethality to waterfowl, ferrets, felids, and humans, indicates an expanding host range. The natural selection of nonpathogenic viruses from heterogeneous subpopulations cocirculating in ducks contributes to the spread of H5N1 in Asia. Transmission of highly pathogenic H5N1 from domestic poultry back to migratory waterfowl in western China has increased the geographic spread. The spread of H5N1 and its likely reintroduction to domestic poultry increase the need for good agricultural vaccines. In fact, the root cause of the continuing H5N1 pandemic threat may be the way the pathogenicity of H5N1 viruses is masked by cocirculating influenza viruses or bad agricultural vaccines.


id: cord-351030-jqqxqjzf
author: Rui, M.
date: 2020-05-16
txt: ./txt/cord-351030-jqqxqjzf.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-351030-jqqxqjzf.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: http://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.05.13.20099978v1?rss=1
doi: 10.1101/2020.05.13.20099978
summary:
  title: A Sparse Gaussian Network Model for Prediction the Growth Trend of COVID-19 Overseas Import Case: When can Hong Kong Lift the International Traffic Blockad? This article establishes an epidemic spread relationship network between Hong Kong and various countries and regions around the world and build a regression model based on network information to fit Hong Kong''s COV-19 epidemic growth data. Therefore, this article first uses the SEIJR model to predict the growth curve of the number of local diagnoses in countries and regions related to Hong Kong. This result shows that we can use the data based on the relation network to fit the existing case growth situation in Hong Kong. 13.20099978 doi: medRxiv preprint Finally, we used the SEJIR model to simulate the cumulative case growth data of 23 countries and regions related to Hong Kong.

title:
  A Sparse Gaussian Network Model for Prediction the Growth Trend of COVID-19 Overseas Import Case: When can Hong Kong Lift the International Traffic Blockad?

abstract:
  The COVID-19 virus was first discovered from China. It has been widely spread internationally. Currently, compare with the rising trend of the overall international epidemic situation, China's domestic epidemic situation has been contained and shows a steady and upward trend. In this situation, overseas imports have become the main channel for china to increase the number of infected people. Therefore, how to track the spread channel of international epidemics and predict the growth of overseas case imports is become an open research question. This study proposes a Gaussian sparse network model based on lasso and uses Hong Kong as an example. To explore the COVID-19 virus from a network perspective and analyzes 75 consecutive days of COV-19 data in 188 countries and regions around the world. This article establishes an epidemic spread relationship network between Hong Kong and various countries and regions around the world and build a regression model based on network information to fit Hong Kong's COV-19 epidemic growth data. The results show that the regression model based on the relationship network can better fit the existing cumulative number growth curve. After combining the SEIJR model, we predict the future development trend of cumulative cases in Hong Kong (without blocking international traffic). Based on the prediction results, we suggest that Hong Kong can lift the international traffic blockade from early to mid-June


id: cord-351225-dq0xu85c
title: Transmission and control of SARS
author: Poutanen, Susan M.
date: 2004
txt: ./txt/cord-351225-dq0xu85c.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-351225-dq0xu85c.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15142486/
doi: 10.1007/s11908-004-0012-7
summary:
  During the outbreak, it was evident that SARS was readily transmissible from person to person, especially in health Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first recognized in China in November 2002 and was subsequently associated with a worldwide outbreak involving 8098 people, 774 of whom died. Evidence for this includes studies in Hong Kong and Toronto, Canada that show an increased risk for SARS in health care workers who entered the room of a patient with SARS, with increasing risk in those with closer proximity to the patient and those remaining in the room for a longer duration, suggesting that transmission is enhanced by close, prolonged contact [19•,20 •] In addition, an increased risk in household members of patients with SARS has been shown in those who had close, prolonged contact with the index person, and in particular, in those who shared a bed, reported being within 1 meter of the index person, and dined together [21•] .

abstract:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was first recognized in China in November 2002 and was subsequently associated with a worldwide outbreak involving 8098 people, 774 of whom died. The outbreak was declared contained on July 5, 2003, after the last human chain of transmission of SARS had been broken. Whether outbreaks of SARS will return is debatable, but no one disagrees that it is important to be prepared for this possibility. This article presents an overview of the transmission and control of SARS based on the current state of knowledge derived from published studies of the outbreak and on our own personal experience.


id: cord-353308-e4s8el0s
title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome: review and lessons of the 2003 outbreak
author: Parashar, Umesh D
date: 2004-05-20
txt: ./txt/cord-353308-e4s8el0s.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-353308-e4s8el0s.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15155694/
doi: 10.1093/ije/dyh198
abstract: nan
summary:
  This dramatic chain of transmission brought to the world''s attention this new respiratory disease, called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and clearly illustrated the potential for SARS to spread extensively from a single infected person and to rapidly disseminate globally through air travel. Diarrhoea has been reported at presentation in approximately 25% of patients, although this symptom was observed in as many as 73% of all patients affected by an outbreak at an apartment complex in Hong Kong that is believed to have resulted from fecal-oral/respiratory transmission of SARS-CoV. [53] [54] [55] [56] Given that profuse watery diarrhoea is seen in a significant proportion of patients and SARS-CoV can be shed in large quantities in stool, faeces remain a possible source of virus and fecal-oral or fecal-respiratory spread are the leading hypotheses for a large outbreak affecting more than 300 people at an apartment complex in Hong Kong. Fatal severe acute respiratory syndrome is associated with multiorgan involvement by coronavirus (SARS-CoV)


id: cord-354832-lps2qbxy
title: The Common Missed Handwashing Instances and Areas after 15 Years of Hand-Hygiene Education
author: Wong, J. S. W.
date: 2019-08-08
txt: ./txt/cord-354832-lps2qbxy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-354832-lps2qbxy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5928924
doi: 10.1155/2019/5928924
summary:
  Following the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, proper hand hygiene has been widely promoted in multiple contexts, focusing on the instances when hands should be washed as well as the duration and technique of handwashing. However, there are few studies that evaluate the compliance of Hong Kong people in this area or the effectiveness of their handwashing after 15 years of health education on this topic. In Hong Kong, the CHP advocates proper handwashing practice to the public aligned with the CDC in the United States, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Global Handwashing Partnership which includes washing one''s hands with water and soap before and after at least eight specific situations; the process comprises six steps over seven areas of both hands for no less than 20 seconds [22] .

abstract:
  The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) claimed the lives of 286 Hong Kong people in 2003. Since then, the Hong Kong government has been promoting the benefits of proper hand hygiene. There are few studies that explore the general quality of handwashing and the hand-hygiene practices of the public of Hong Kong; given this, the aim of this study is to explore this neglected topic. This study is a quantitative study that was conducted in January 2018. The results show that the majority of participants only wash their hands after using the toilet (87%) or handling vomitus or faecal matter (91%). The mean duration of handwashing was 36.54 seconds (SD = 18.57). The areas of the hand most neglected during handwashing were the fingertips (48.1%), medial area (30.5%), and back of the hand (28%). A multiple logistic regression shows that participants who have reached third-level education or higher often tend to be more hand hygienic than those who have not reached third-level education (p ≤ 0.001, B = 1.003). Thus, participants aged 30 and above tend to neglect 5 more areas of the hand than those aged below 30 (p=0.001, B = 4.933).


