The Centre for Health Protection has issued a news release: Imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong under CHP investigation. Excerpt:
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (February 12) investigating an imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong affecting a man aged 65.
The patient, with underlying medical conditions, lives in Sha Tin. He has developed fever and cough since February 8 and consulted a private medical practitioner on February 9. He was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) yesterday (February 11) for persistent illness and was then transferred to isolation ward for further management. He is now in critical condition.
His nasopharyngeal aspirate was positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
Preliminary epidemiological investigations by the CHP revealed that, the patient had travelled to Kaiping, Guangdong from January 24 to February 9 and had stayed in his local residence. Information so far indicated that his family had bought a slaughtered chicken from a village in Kaiping on January 29.
The patient's seven family members in Hong Kong have remained asymptomatic and five of them (classified as close contacts) will be admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for observation and testing.
Further investigations into his travel and exposure histories are ongoing, in parallel with tracing of other contacts of the patient, including the doctor and patients of the private clinic which the patient attended, patients who stayed in the same room with the patient in KWH, and relevant visitors and healthcare workers of KWH, who will be put under medical surveillance.
The CHP will liaise with relevant Mainland health authority to follow-up the patient's contacts during his stay in the Mainland.
