Monday, June 22, 2009

3 HK footballers at Asian Youth Games contract H1N1

By 938LIVE | Posted: 22 June 2009 1748 hrs

090620-PhilFootBallerGotH1N1 A man walks under banners displaying the Asian Youth Games in Singapore


SINGAPORE: More confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) have emerged at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) village in Singapore.

Three members of the Hong Kong football team taking part in the AYG are the latest confirmed cases, after tests conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday night.

The three confirmed cases have been sent to Singapore General Hospital and the team's match with Saudi Arabia at 5pm on Monday has been cancelled.

MOH had received information from their Hong Kong counterparts that two players contracted H1N1 and have missed training since 18 June. They remained in Hong Kong and did not travel to Singapore.

In an update on the football player from the Philippines, the organising commmittee said he is still undergoing medical treatment at the Communicable Disease Centre.

The 14-year-old developed flu-like symptoms last Friday and tested positive for the virus a day later.

One other Philippine team member had felt unwell and was sent to KK Hospital but he tested negative for H1N1. He is now under quarantine with the rest of the team at the Aloha Loyang Resort.

The confirmed Hong Kong and Philippines cases were all imported ones. None caught the virus locally in Singapore.

The AYG organising committee co-chair Oon Jin Teik said the Games is well prepared even with two football teams having confirmed cases of H1N1.

He said there are different variables which determine any further cancellation of matches.

His co-chair, Sum Chee Wah, said the strategy is to keep H1N1 infections to its lowest, and provide medical assistance.

The AYG medical services committee said the emphasis is on ensuring the safety of athletes. It will step up temperature checks and remind athletes to maintain their social distance to prevent chances of infection and community spread.

- 938LIVE/ir 

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

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