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The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (February 24) reported further updates on the first imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) this winter.
The male patient aged 60 remains under isolation and management in the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital and is in a stable condition.
To date, 43 close and 123 other contacts of the patient have been identified.
A. Close contacts
According to the management of close contacts recommended by the CHP's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases which came into effect in March 2015, based on risk assessment, antiviral prophylaxis with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) will be given to close contacts for five days and they will be put under medical surveillance for 10 days after the last exposure to the patient.
The 43 close contacts include:
* The patient's son with sore throat (influenza A negative) and asymptomatic wife;
* Twelve in-patients of the same cubicle as the patient in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH), of which one was symptomatic (H7 negative, H1 positive) and the rest were asymptomatic; and
* Four relevant PYNEH visitors and 25 clinic contacts who were all asymptomatic.
B. Other contacts
The 123 asymptomatic other contacts will be under medical surveillance. They include relevant PYNEH visitors, healthcare workers and clinic contacts.
Epidemiological investigations and contact tracing are ongoing.
Ends/Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:18
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