************************************************************
In light of outbreaks of human infection of Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico and the United States, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Thomas Tsang today (April 25) said local surveillance systems would be stepped up as a precautionary measure.
Dr Tsang also reminded travellers to consider the latest developments in Swine Influenza in planning travel to the affected places.
¡§If travel to such places is unavoidable, travelers should take precautionary measures to prevent infection,¡¨ he said.
Such measures include avoiding contact with sick people; avoiding touching one¡¦s eyes, nose or mouth; wash hands frequently with soap and water or apply alcohol-based hand cleaners.
¡§People who develop respiratory illness within 7 days after returning from the affected places should put on a surgical mask and seek medical consultation from public clinics and hospitals immediately. This will facilitate prompt investigations by the health authority,¡¨ Dr Tsang said.
As of the present, human cases of Swine Influenza have been confirmed in San Diego and Imperial Counties of California (6 cases) and Guadalupe County of Texas (2 cases) in the United States with no fatality.
In Mexico, three separate events of influenza-like-illnesses (ILI) have been reported in the Federal District of Mexico (more than 854 pneumonia cases, 59 deaths), San Luis Potosi (24 ILI cases, 3 deaths) and Mexicali (4 ILI cases, 0 deaths) respectively. Of the Mexican cases, 18 have been laboratory confirmed in Canada as Swine Influenza A/H1N1.
Dr Tsang said surveillance at boundary control points and at the public health laboratory would be stepped up.
¡§Travellers from the affected places who are found to have Swine Influenza symptoms at boundary control points will be taken to hospitals for further investigation.
¡§Laboratory testing for Swine Influenza will be conducted for patients with influenza-like-illness who had travelled to the affected places within 7 days before onset of symptoms,¡¨ Dr Tsang said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Swine Influenza A/H1N1 viruses characterized in this outbreak had not been previously detected in pigs or humans, he said.
¡§The viruses so far characterized have been sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), which constitute the antiviral stockpile in Hong Kong.
¡§The virus may have spread from person to person. Investigations are under way to determine the efficiency of transmission between people,¡¨ Dr Tsang said.
Symptoms of Swine Influenza included fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, and some cases have had vomiting and diarrhea.
¡§The CHP is working closely with the Hospital Authority to implement precautionary measures against Swine Influenza.
¡§We will also keep private doctors informed of the latest development and ask them to report suspected cases,¡¨ Dr Tsang said.
Dr Tsang stressed that the CHP would continue to monitor the situation and inform the public accordingly.
¡§The CHP will review its health advice for travelers frequently taking into account latest developments and advice from the WHO,¡¨ Dr Tsang said.
Ends/Saturday, April 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:40
NNNN
