**************************************************
In view of a human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Shenzhen, the Hospital Authority has started a three-week Enhanced Surveillance Programme.
Under the programme, which began yesterday (June 15), public hospitals should report to the Authority's e-Flu system all patients fulfilling the case definition of having pneumonia (all types) of unidentified etiology and who had travelled in the seven days before the onset of symptoms, to affected areas/countries with confirmed human cases of avian influenza infection in the past six months.
The Hospital Authority today (June 16) received reports of a total of 18 cases (11 male, seven female, aged seven months to 89 years). So far, a total of 28 cases (16 male, 12 female, aged seven months to 89 years) have been received. These patients had visited Guangdong and Hubei before the onset of symptoms. The Hospital Authority has reported the cases to the Centre for Health Protection. Public hospitals are providing rapid tests for these patients.
Ends/Friday, June 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:27
NNNN
