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A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 5) provided an update on the suspected imported human case of Influenza A(H7). Preliminary laboratory test results for the respiratory specimens of the 7-year-old girl today showed negative for Influenza A (H7).
The CHP today received notification from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) of a female patient who visited Shanghai, Jiangsu and Hunan with her family from March 23 to April 3. She developed fever and sore throat today and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of QEH. She is now admitted to the isolation ward for further management and her condition has been stable all along.
"Influenza A (H7) is a statutorily notifiable infectious disease in Hong Kong and no human cases of Influenza A (H7N9) have been recorded so far," a spokesman for the DH stressed.
The spokesman also reminded doctors to report any suspected case of Influenza A (H7) to the CHP and the PHLSB is ready to receive and test specimens whenever necessary.
Travellers, especially those returning from Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with fever or respiratory symptoms are urged to wear facial masks immediately, seek medical attention, and reveal their travel history to doctors. Healthcare professionals should also pay special attention to those who might have contact with birds, poultry or their droppings in the affected areas.
Members of the public should remain vigilant and are reminded to take heed of the following preventive advice against avian influenza:
* Avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; if contacts have been made, they should immediately wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
* Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked before eating;
* Wash hands frequently with soap, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, handling food or eating, after going to toilet, touching public installations or equipment such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
* Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue and put it into covered dustbins;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with fever patients; and
* Wear a mask when respiratory symptoms develop or you need to take care of fever patients.
The public may visit the Avian Influenza page of the CHP (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/24244.html) for further information.
Ends/Friday, April 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 23:23
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