In Brief
Acting health chief apologises for mortuary mishap
Acting Secretary for Food and Health Professor Gabriel Leung yesterday made a public apology after a hospital assistant at Princess Margaret Hospital left a dead baby on a mortuary trolley exposed overnight instead of putting it into refrigerated storage. The incident happened last month. The health chief said he was saddened by the incident, which took place after authorities revamped handling procedures and guidelines for medical and mortuary staff following a string of embarrassing blunders. The Hospital Authority and Princess Margaret Hospital have to complete a report on the incident within two weeks. The assistant involved was sacked.
Assurance on effectiveness of new flu vaccinations
The controller of the Centre for Health Protection said that new flu jabs remained effective despite the virus' mutations. The comment by Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai came after the World Health Organisation warned in a report that the flu virus had mutated. However, Tsang said the mutations were minor and would not affect the new jabs. The Hospital Authority's outpatient clinics will start providing free influenza vaccinations to eligible persons from next month until March. A total of 300,000 flu shots have been secured by the government this year for its free vaccination programme, which targets high-risk groups such as old people with chronic illness, health workers and people who work with poultry and pigs.
Taxi driver killed in crash
A taxi driver died after crashing his cab into road signs at a work site in Cheung Sha Wan. The 62-year-old man was driving towards Mong Kok on Cheung Sha Wan Road when he lost control of the cab at the junction with Tai Nam West Street shortly after 3pm. He was declared dead at Caritas Medical Centre.
Fire damages recycling store
Fire broke out at a recycling storage facility in Ng Chow South Road, Ta Kwu Ling yesterday. Firemen used four jets and mobilised six teams with breathing apparatus to fight the blaze. The fire was put out at 6pm. No one was hurt.
