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On the results of the tests and examinations, Dr Tam pointed out that one more student of the kindergarten who had been screened earlier and closely monitored was just confirmed as having TB. This student was given appropriate treatment and was granted sick leave.
This brought the total number of TB cases in the kindergarten to five, four involving students and one a former worker, he said.
Dr Tam, however, stressed that the parents and the public should not be over- worried about the situation so long as they followed the health advice of their attending physicians and DH.
He said that the Department was receiving good co-operation from all parties concerned in carrying out the control measures.
"Some former students also turned up for tuberculin tests and examinations as a result of the wide publicity.
"This makes our investigation more thorough and control measures more effective."
To date, of the 302 present and former students in the kindergarten, only about 17 have not done the tests and arrangements have already been made for them.
The result of the contact screening showed that about 27 percent of those tested were positive. This is in line with the overall trend in Hong Kong.
He reiterated that positive results only indicated that follow-up work was required and not necessarily indicative of TB disease.
"Early diagnosis and treatment are some of the most effective measures that could be taken and present treatment programme is very effective," Dr Tam said.
As regards another case involving a nursery in the Tsuen Wan district, Dr Tam noted that to date, contact screening had been conducted for some 117 of the 122 children.
Of the 110 results available, only 12 students (i.e. 11 percent) were found positive and follow-up measures would be taken for these students.
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