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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (April 7) received notification from Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) a suspected human case of Influenza A (H7) affecting a 15-month-old girl whose respiratory specimen tested negative for the H7 virus upon preliminary testing.
The girl visited Anhui from March 18 to 31 and developed fever, cough and runny nose on April 6. She was admitted to isolation ward of QMH today. Her condition is stable.
The patient's parents have mild upper respiratory infection symptoms with no fever.
Her chest X-ray was clear. Preliminary laboratory test results by QMH today for the respiratory specimens of the patient and her parents showed negative for Influenza A (H7), but the respiratory specimens of the patient and her father showed positive for Influenza A (H1).
Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient stayed in a farm with poultry during her visit in the Mainland.
"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 Public Health Laboratory Services Branch 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/Sunday, April 7, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:42
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