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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 2) received notification from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) about a 70-year old man presenting with neurological symptoms and history of human swine influenza (HSI) vaccination.
The patient had HSI vaccination on December 28, 2009, about two months before onset of symptoms.
A CHP spokesman said the patient had onset of leg pain and numbness in late February. He was admitted to QEH on March 18 and was found to have ataxia after admission. Further investigations are being carried out to ascertain the diagnosis, including that of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) and other neurological conditions. He is now in stable condition.
He said, "CHP will closely monitor the clinical progress and further laboratory results of the patient."
"Information about the case will be reviewed by the Expert Group in due course for determination of diagnosis and etiology."
Literature review shows that the majority of GBS cases that are temporarily associated with seasonal influenza vaccination occur between the second and the third week, with a median latency of 13 days.
According to the World Health Organisation, global experience so far showed that HSI vaccination is not associated with increased incidence of GBS.
In Hong Kong, the number of GBS cases after the HSI vaccination program started is within normal range. The Expert Group has earlier reviewed GBS cases with HSI vaccination history and concluded that no causal relationship could be established on the basis of the observed GBS incidence.
A baseline number of such neurological conditions occur in Hong Kong every year, regardless of vaccination history. Some of the events are expected to occur coincidentally following HSI vaccination.
Ends/Friday, April 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:23
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