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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Hong Kong Quarantines Entire Hotel

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(Newser) – Hong Kong has quarantined an entire hotel after a guest was diagnosed with swine flu, the Wall Street Journal reports. The territory's chief executive said he opted to err on the side of caution in an attempt to contain the spread of the disease. Roughly 300 guests are trapped inside; they're allowed to roam freely through the hotel but are being encouraged to stay in their rooms and avoid contact. The patient is in isolation at a hospital.

Those who were in close contact with the patient are being quarantined separately. All guests will be treated with Tamiflu. It is the first instance of pig flu in East Asia, but SARS is still fresh in the region’s mind. That disease, which killed 299 in Hong Kong, was traced back to a single infected guest at a hotel in the Kowloon neighborhood.

Police officers wearing masks seal off Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as the first swine flu victim in the city was confirmed to have stayed there.
Police officers wearing masks seal off Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as the first swine flu victim in the city was confirmed to have stayed there.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Reporters stand outside the Infectious Disease Center at the hospital where the swine flu infection patient taking medical treatment in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009.
Reporters stand outside the Infectious Disease Center at the hospital where the swine flu infection patient taking medical treatment in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
A couples wave from their room of Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as they are isolated.
A couples wave from their room of Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as they are isolated.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Police officers wearing a protective mask, seal off Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as the first swine flu victim in the city was confirmed to have stayed there.
Police officers wearing a protective mask, seal off Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong Friday, May 1, 2009 as the first swine flu victim in the city was confirmed to have stayed there.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
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3 comments
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TerrifiedCitizen
May 1, 09 1:00 PM CDT
The pork industry would rather you didn't report it as Swine Flu... Reply
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nkrivosh
May 1, 09 1:58 PM CDT
So much fussing. I doubt this thing is a serious threat to any healthy person. Reply
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radnip
May 2, 09 4:03 PM CDT
How many people die from seasonal flu again? SARS and H1N1 seem mild in comparison. And yet, it's the mild stuff that gets the quarantine...? Reply
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