China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

[sharon sanders]

hat tip Michael Coston

Friday, June 01, 2012

HK Raises Alert Level: Toddler Hospitalized With H5 Flu

Map Credit Wikipedia

# 6350


We are just now starting to get details, but it appears that a 2-year-old boy from neighboring Guangdong Province is being treated in a Hong Kong hospital for H5 avian influenza, and as a result the Centre for Health Protection has raised their pandemic response level from `Alert’ to `Serious’.


Two reports out of Hong Kong, first detailing the case, and the second with details on the initial response.

Boy infected with H5 in stable condition


The serious response level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for influenza pandemic was activated today (June 1) as the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) investigated a case of influenza A H5 infection affecting a two-year-old boy.

The patient developed fever and runny nose on May 23 in Guangdong province. He came to Hong Kong on May 26 and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic in Mong Kok. Subsequently, he developed febrile convulsion and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on May 28. He was admitted for suspected encephalitis. He is now in stable condition.

A spokesman for the CHP said that the nasopharyngeal aspirate taken from the boy tested positive for Influenza A (H5). Further studies on the virus were in progress.

Investigation revealed that the patient lived in Guangdong province with his parents and maternal grandmother. His exposure history during incubation period is pending.

His home contacts were asymptomatic.

A telephone hotline, 2125 1111, has been set up to answer public enquiries from tomorrow (June 2). The hotline will be operated from 9am to 6pm.

"The CHP is also closely liaising with the Mainland authorities and the Hospital Authority to monitor the situation," the spokesman said.

He advised members of the public that the best way to combat influenza infection was to build up body resistance by having a proper diet with adequate exercise and rest.

"Good ventilation should be maintained to avoid the spread of respiratory tract infection.

"Members of the public should seek medical consultation promptly if they develop influenza-like illness.

"Members of the public should also avoid direct contact with poultry and birds, and if contacts have been made, they should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water," the spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, June 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 23:36
​

The second press release concerns the raising of the alert level.

Serious Response Level activated in public hospitals
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman announced today (June 2) the activation of Serious Response Level in public hospitals to tie in with the Government's raising the response level for avian influenza from "Alert" to "Serious".

The HA spokesman said hospital staff at Accident & Emergency Departments and general outpatient clinics was reminded to be vigilant to patients. Triage assessment and appropriate segregation at waiting areas would be arranged.


Under the Serious Response Level, more stringent infection control measures will be enforced in public hospitals, which include no visiting at isolation wards unless on compassionate ground. For all acute hospitals, visiting hours would be not more than 2 hours per day and not more than 2 visitors per visit, and not more than 4 hours per day for all convalescent hospitals. Volunteering service in hospitals would be suspended under "Serious" Level. Visitors to public hospitals and clinics are advised to put on surgical masks if they have respiratory infection symptoms and perform hand hygiene before and after visiting patient areas.

According to the spokesman, HA would continue to work closely with Centre for Health Protection in monitoring the latest situation and keep the general public as well as health care workers updated of the development on a regular basis.
Ends/Saturday, June 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 00:39
​

The good news, of course, is there is probably no place in the world more vigilant - or better able to respond – to any H5 outbreak than Hong Kong.

We’ll obviously be watching this story closely over the next several days.

Posted by Michael Coston at 1:28 PM

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Source: Hong Kong Radio Television, full Chinese text, automatically translated: http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20120601/news_20120601_55_844775.htm


The boy was infected with H5 influenza authorities to investigate whether contact with birds

2012-06-01 HKT 23:40

A two-year-old boy infected with influenza A H5 influenza, the government launched the Serious Response Level of pandemic influenza contingency plans ".

Centre for Health Protection, said the boy on May 23, last Wednesday, fever and runny nose; began in Guangdong Province to Hong Kong in the 26th in Mong Kok, a private clinic for treatment; had convulsions on the 28th to the Caritas Hospital Accident and Emergency Department, suspected of being infected with encephalitis admitted to hospital the same day, is now in stable condition.

The spokesman said the boy's throat found that influenza A H5 influenza virus.

The survey shows that the boy and his grandmother and parents living in Guangdong Province, the center is investigating the incubation period whether contact with live poultry. His home contacts were asymptomatic.

Centre for Health Protection will be held tomorrow (June 2) set up a hotline: 2125 1111 for public inquiries, the hotline will operate from nine o'clock to 6:00 pm.

The spokesman said, is close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities and the Hospital Authority, in order to monitor the situation.

The spokesman reminded the public that the most effective way to combat influenza is to enhance its resistance to a balanced diet and do moderate exercise and adequate rest.

He said the Interior to maintain ventilation to avoid the spread of respiratory tract infections due to poor ventilation. If there is a flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

The spokesman said the public should avoid direct contact with poultry and birds, and are required to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with them.

Hospital Authority, said the year-old boy tonight by the Caritas Medical Centre transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital Center for Infectious Diseases Hospital for isolation and treatment, is now in stable condition.

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[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Source: SINA, full Chinese text, automatically translated: http://news.sina.com.hk/news/32/1/1/2679664/1.html

The boy suspected of avian influenza infection in stable condition

2012-06-01 23:44:00

A two-year-old boy suspected of infection encephalitis, and later found his secretions influenza H5 (bird flu) virus, he is now in stable condition.

Boy in Guangdong Province on May 23 with fever and a runny nose, he came to Hong Kong on May 26, in Mong Kok, one private clinics for treatment. He had convulsions on the May 28, went to Caritas hospital emergency room seeking treatment, suspected of being infected with encephalitis, the same day admission.

Night by the Caritas Medical Centre transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital Center for Infectious Diseases Hospital for isolation and treatment, is now in stable condition.

A CHP spokesman said that the boy's throat secretions were found to have influenza A H5 influenza virus, further tests still in progress.

The survey shows that the boy and his grandmother and parents living in Guangdong Province, the center is investigating the incubation period whether contact with live poultry. His home contacts were asymptomatic.

The CHP will set up a hotline (2125 1111) tomorrow, for public inquiries, the hotline will operate from 9 am to 6 pm.

The spokesman said, is also close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities and the Hospital Authority, in order to monitor the situation. Members of the public should avoid direct contact with poultry and birds, and are required to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with them.

(News)

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[tetano]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Published Date: 2012-06-01 23:05:05
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (52): China (HK ex GD)
Archive Number: 20120601.1153732

AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN (52): CHINA (HONG KONG ex GUANGDONG)
***********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org


Date: 1 Jun 2012

Source: Government of Hong Kong [edited]

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201206/01/P201206010683.htm



The serious response level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for influenza pandemic was activated today (1 Jun [2012]) as the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) investigated a case of influenza A H5 [N1?] infection affecting a 2-year-old boy.



The patient developed fever and runny nose on 23 May [2012] in Guangdong province. He came to Hong Kong on 26 May and sought medical attention from a private medical clinic in Mong Kok. Subsequently, he developed febrile convulsion and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on 28 May. He was admitted for suspected encephalitis. He is now in stable condition.



A spokesman for the CHP said that the nasopharyngeal aspirate taken from the boy tested positive for Influenza A (H5). Further studies on the virus were in progress.



Investigation revealed that the patient lived in Guangdong province with his parents and maternal grandmother. His exposure history during incubation period is pending.



His home contacts were asymptomatic.



"The CHP is also closely liaising with the Mainland authorities and the Hospital Authority to monitor the situation," the spokesman said.



He advised members of the public that the best way to combat influenza infection was to build up body resistance by having a proper diet with adequate exercise and rest. "Good ventilation should be maintained to avoid the spread of respiratory tract infection. Members of the public should seek medical consultation promptly if they develop influenza-like illness. Members of the public should also avoid direct contact with poultry and birds, and if contacts have been made, they should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water," the spokesman said.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[The final typing of the virus is awaited, but presumably the infection is due to influenza A H5N1. The infection was acquired in Guangdong province, but details of the circumstances there, including possible contact with poultry or wild birds, are awaited. Avian influenza virus A H5N1 has been found several times in wild birds in China and poultry and has been responsible for human fatalities this year as well. A published article cited in ProMED-mail archive stated, "Since 2003 to 06 Jan 2012, the number of laboratory confirmed human cases of infection with avian influenza in China was 41 and 27 were fatal. However, the official estimate of the H5N1 case-fatality rate has been described by some as an over estimation since there may be numerous undetected asymptomatic/mild cases of H5N1 infection." (Reference cited: Xiang Huo, Rongqiang Zu, Xian Qi, Yuanfang Qin, Liang Li, Fenyang Tang, Zhibin Hu and Fengcai Zhu. Seroprevalence of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among poultry workers in Jiangsu Province, China: an observational study. BMC Infectious Diseases 2012, 12:93 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-12-93 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/12/93/abstract). - Mod.TY]

http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20120601.1153732

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK). Edited.]

SFH on avian influenza


Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media session after the meeting of the Steering Committee on Avian Influenza this morning (June 2):

Reporter:
(On the condition of the patient.)

Secretary for Food and Health:
The condition of the patient is not serious. For our contingency plan, whenever there is a local case of avian influenza in Hong Kong, we need to raise our alert to the serious level. That is the reason why I have just announced all those measures that we had to take, including raising the alert in the public hospitals; checking the imports of live chickens; inspecting our farms and birds and so on. We think it is an important measure to take for particularly Hong Kong, because we had experiences of outbreaks of avian influenza in Hong Kong. For this particular case, so far the chance of it being spread to other humans is relatively low. But we still need to go through the whole process of analysing the origin and channel of the infection and have to study the virology of the virus.


Reporter:
(On temperature and health check at the border.)


Secretary for Food and Health:
The temperature check is only able to detect people with high temperature. With anybody who is suppressing their body temperature with medicine, it is always difficult to detect. What is more important for the whole exercise of checking body temperature is to alert our tourists and also our Hong Kong returnees to be aware of their health. In case there are any symptoms or signs, they should seek medical treatment. Everyday, we are able to detect more than 10 to 20 people with high temperature passing through our border. We do not quarantine them or take them to hospitals. We will check their contact history to see whether they have been exposed to poultry or birds and so on; and what type of infection they are likely to have. Many of them follow our advice and go to seek medical treatment.


Reporter:
(On banning live poultry imported from the Mainland.)


Secretary for Food and Health:
We have done a lot in the last few years in controlling avian influenza in our poultry, including those imported from the Mainland as well as from our local farms. We are also handling our chickens at the retail level with the "no retention overnight" policy. These are effective policies as far as controlling avian influenza in Hong Kong is concerned. But as far as the whole environment is concerned, as you know that this year we have 20 dead wild birds tested positive for carrying the H5N1 virus. It means that if the virus is always in existence in our natural environment, although they might not be affecting our poultry, might not be affecting our humans, but they are there. In all aspects, we have to be very cautious all the time to ensure that all the measures we took are being followed by the respective stakeholders and Government regulators.


Reporter:
(On whether there will be an import poultry ban.)


Secretary for Food and Health:
I do not see any reason for changing our supply of live poultry at the moment. But we will of course always be vigilant about the situation. If we find anything that would increase the risk of H5N1 infection on humans, we will of course take extra measures.


Reporter:
Do Hong Kong people need to be worried about the incident?


Secretary for Food and Health:
At the moment, it is an isolated case. We feel that there is no need for panic among Hong Kong citizens. We have measures to tackle all types of infectious diseases, including controlling avian influenza through various means such as our control at poultry farms and retail level and so on. We also have very good diagnostic tools within the health care system. All the hospitals are equipped to test influenza virus by a fast test and are able to alert within a few hours. All in all, the only message I like to advise the public is to always maintain a good level of personal and environmental hygiene. When you visit other places outside Hong Kong, be careful of those wet markets and places where there might have poultry. It is always more risky when you get into a large concentration of animals if you do not know their health status.


Reporter:
(On transmission mode of the virus.)


Secretary for Food and Health:
For all experiences, the most common course of transmission is from infected poultry to human. Infected poultry means that the chicken is usually still alive. It is very rare that dead chicken or chilled or frozen chicken would transmit the virus to humans.


(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)


Ends/Saturday, June 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:53
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[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Steering Committee on Avian Influenza updates avian flu precautionary measures (with photo)


The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, this morning (June 2) convened an inter-departmental meeting on avian influenza following the confirmation of a case of Influenza A H5 infection by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) yesterday (June 1) . The meeting reviewed the latest situation and preventive measures being taken by various parties against avian flu.

The inter-departmental meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Health (DH), the Hospital Authority (HA), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).

Dr Chow noted that the Government has activated the Serious Response Level under the Government's Preparedness Plan for influenza pandemic. To prevent the spread of the virus, the inter-departmental group had decided to take a series of actions according to the contingency plan for the Serious Response Level.

Accordingly, the CHP under DH has stepped up surveillance and testing. A telephone hotline 2125 1111 has also been set up to answer public enquiries. The CHP will write to all medical practitioners alerting them of the development and has liaised closely with HA to step up surveillance. The department will also send letters to institutions, elderly homes and schools to remind them to be vigilant. The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of China as well as the inspection and quarantine authorities have been informed of the case.

For public hospitals, the HA had activated the Serious Response Level to implement a series of measures to enhance surveillance and infection control. Hospital staff at Accident and Emergency Departments and general outpatient clinics will be vigilant to patients. Triage assessment and appropriate segregation at waiting areas would be arranged according to stipulated clinical guidelines.

Under the Serious Response Level, more stringent infection control measures will be enforced in public hospitals, which include no visiting at isolation wards unless on compassionate ground.

For all acute hospitals, visiting hours would be not more than 2 hours per day and not more than 2 visitors per visit, and not more than 4 hours per day for all convalescent hospitals. Volunteering service in hospitals would be suspended under "Serious" Level.

Visitors to public hospitals and clinics are advised to put on surgical masks if they have respiratory infection symptoms and perform hand hygiene before and after visiting patient areas.

As the patient came from Guangdong province, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) under the FEHD has liaised with their Mainland counterparts for further actions.

Once the CHP has obtained further information on the source of infection, CFS will announce the area within a radius of 13 kilometres of the infected area to be the "import control zone" for temporary suspension of importing live poultry and poultry products to Hong Kong for 21 days.

Initially, no registered farm supplying live poultry to Hong Kong is found within the radius of 13 kilometres of the residential place of the patient. The CFS will continue their surveillance on imported live poultry at the import level.

The FEHD will adopt a series of corresponding measures including stepping up inspection at public market stalls and fresh provisions shops, enhancing surveillance and random checking of any incompliance with the prohibition against overnight stocking of live poultry at the retail level and stepping up cleansing and disinfection work at public markets.

In addition, the AFCD will complete the inspection of all 30 local chicken farms within these two days to confirm the health condition of chickens at local farms and ensure that all biosecurity and health measures are followed strictly.

Live chickens supply from local farms will not be affected by this incident. The department will continue its inspection of poultry wholesale market, the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden and the pet bird shops to remind traders to stringently implement biosecurity measures.

The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance and remind poultry farmers, wholesalers, pet bird shop owners, Mai Po Nature Reserve and Hong Kong Wetland Park, etc. to remain vigilant and strengthen precautionary measures against avian influenza.

The Government will step up publicity efforts and increase the broadcast of Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) on avian influenza prevention on television and radio to further advise the public on precautionary measures.

In addition, the Education Bureau will issue a letter advising schools to stay alert in preventing the spread of avian influenza on school premises.


Ends/Saturday, June 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:59
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[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Updates on H5 case


Latest laboratory results received by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 2) confirmed that the two-year-old boy was infected with Influenza A (H5N1).

The boy is put under intensive care treatment in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and is now in serious condition.

Latest radiological imaging studies showed obstructive hydrocephalus.

Investigation is underway for the underlying cause.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the boy had visited a wet market with live poultry in Guangzhou in mid-May.

"The boy's parents are all along asymptomatic, which means the chance of a human-to-human transmission is slim," a CHP spokesman said.

The parents are being quarantined at PMH and nasophargngeal aspirates taken from them were tested negative.

Laboratory tests of two health care workers of the private clinic and another patient who attended the same clinic were also tested negative for Influenza A (H5).

As at 4pm today, a total of six public enquiries have been received on the DH hotline (2125 1111).

Investigation continues.


Ends/Saturday, June 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:38
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[sharon sanders]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province, close contacts tested negative so far

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province, close contacts tested negative so far

Also please see:

China - Shenzhen Children's Hospital in Guangdong province overwhelmed by surge in clinic May 24

China - 1000 police stage night raid of Chang Ping town, Guangdong province (Dongguan area) April 30 - "The three neighboring municipalities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen are home to over 25 million residents, accounting for a large proportion of the Pearl River Delta Region's population"

China - Emergency Health Response Training Held in Guangdong province April 26

China - Surge of flu, respiratory diseases, and HFMD in Dongguan, Guangdong province April 8

 

[Treyfish]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province, close contacts tested negative so far

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province, close contacts tested negative so far

Confirmation of avian influenza boy contact with ducks vegetable market in Guangzhou


6 /2/ 2012, Day 8:27 p.m.
message, a two-year-old boy returned to Hong Kong from Guangdong infected with avian influenza.

Xinhua reported that at 17:30 on the 2nd, He Jianfeng, director of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Epidemiology Institute, said that is currently being carried out in accordance with the avian flu in Guangdong plans epidemiological investigation, the investigation is ongoing.

He Jianfeng, the Guangdong received the notification of the Department of Health in the 1st, 2-year-old boy who lives in the Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 23 Day onset to return to Hong Kong, 26, was hospitalized on the 28th, the test showed that influenza A influenza A (H5) positive .

It is reported that the boy's parents are in Hong Kong, his father in Hong Kong, my mother is from Anhui. In Guangdong before the onset of one week, my mother had the children been to the markets of South Park Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou. Hong Kong news that the boys' mother bought a live ducks in the market live slaughter, had a history of exposure of birds.:tiphat:
http://finance.ifeng.com/stock/roll/20120602/6554309.shtml

 

[Treyfish]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

Confirm the boy of avian flu in Hong Kong markets in Guangzhou, contact ducks
http://www.rednet.cn 2012/6/2 22:49:36
Assessment), according to the news of Hong Kong, a two-year-old boy was infected with avian influenza after returning from Guangdong.At 17:30 on the 2nd, He Jianfeng, director of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Epidemiology Institute told Xinhua, is currently being carried out in accordance with the avian flu in Guangdong plans epidemiological investigation, the investigation is ongoing.

He Jianfeng, the Guangdong received the notification of the Department of Health in the 1st, 2-year-old boy who lives in the Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 23 Day onset to return to Hong Kong, 26, was hospitalized on the 28th, the inspection found that the influenza A (H5)-positive.

Receiving the information, and the boy's family, more communication, the boy's parents are in Hong Kong, his father was a Hong Kong people, my mother is from Anhui in Guangdong before the onset of one week, my mother had children been to the vegetable market of Haizhu District, South Park Avenue, Hong Kong, tells us that the boys' mother bought a ducks in the market, on-site slaughter, had a history of exposure of birds about 17 to 19 20 to 22, she returned to Anhui Office of the immigration card, 23 in Guangdong, the child developed fever, to the Guangzhou Children's Hospital to see a doctor.

boy back to Hong Kong on the 26th, children seizures situation, the first suspicions of brain inflammation, the Hong Kong side after sampling found H5 positive. "he said.
Jianfeng said: "after receiving the information, we promptly of avian flu in Guangdong plan to carry out the epidemiological survey of the province, city, district, and separately to the patient's family, been to the market and surrounding markets, been to the hospital to carry out the popular disease investigation, analysis of the recent avian Influenza Surveillance in Guangdong, and found no cases of avian influenza H5 positive results, unexplained pneumonia monitoring have not received a report at present. "As of press interviews, Jianfeng said in accordance with the plan to carry out related work. Is now investigating the possible close contacts, and their health status monitoring, current monitoring is not done, as of 17:30 found no abnormal symptoms.:tiphat:http://china.rednet.cn/c/2012/06/02/2634593.htm

 

[Treyfish]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

..So where are the normal coughing and breathing problems?? :magnify:

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Hospital Authority enhanced surveillance programme for patient with influenza symptom


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Central Committee on Infectious Diseases & Emergency Responses of the Hospital Authority (HA) held a special meeting today (June 2) afternoon to discuss and review infection control measures of activation of Serious Response Level in public hospitals after confirmation of an Influenza A (H5N1) case. The HA also implemented an Enhanced Surveillance Programme for patient with influenza symptom.

The HA spokesman reiterates that hospital staff at Accident & Emergency Departments and general outpatient clinics were reminded to be vigilant to patients. Triage assessment and appropriate segregation at waiting areas would be arranged.

Under the Serious Response Level, more stringent infection control measures will be enforced in public hospitals, which include no visiting at isolation wards unless on compassionate ground.

For all acute hospitals, visiting hours would be not more than 2 hours per day and not more than 2 visitors per visit, and not more than 4 hours per day for all convalescent hospitals. Volunteering service in hospitals would be suspended.

Visitors to public hospitals and clinics are advised to put on surgical masks if they have respiratory infection symptoms and perform hand hygiene before and after visiting patient areas.

According to the spokesman, HA would continue to work closely with the Centre for Health Protection in monitoring the latest situation and keep the general public as well as healthcare workers updated of the development on a regular basis.


Ends/Saturday, June 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:04
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[sharon sanders]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

Latest China human H5N1 cases in descending chronological order:

China, Man, 39, dead from H5N1 Bird Flu - Guizhou province January 22, 2012

China - Human case of H5N1 Dies in Shenzhen, Guangdong province (December 30 2011)

Hong Kong - Woman traveler to China, 59, Confirmed H5N1 - November 2010

China - Woman, 22, dies of H5N1 in Hubei Province - May & June 2010

 

[Treyfish]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

Boy Confirmed with Bird Flu in Hong Kong
2012-06-02 23:14:03 Xinhua Web Editor: Li
<TABLE id=dstTable border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Hong Kong health authority said on Saturday that a two-year-old boy has been confirmed with H5N1 Influenza A and urged the public not to panic.

The Center for Health Protection said the boy's condition has changed from stable to serious after testing positive for the deadly avian influenza, while his parents' tests for influenza were negative.

"The boy's parents are all along asymptomatic, which means that the chance of a human-to-human transmission is slim," said a spokesman of the center in a statement.

The boy was put to intensive care treatment while his parents were in quarantine in the same hospital.

A native of China's southern city of Guangzhou, the boy went to Hong Kong with his family on May 26 to seek medical treatment after running a fever for weeks.

After reporting the influenza case, the city government raised its bird flu alert level to "serious" and tightened control on live chickens imports, and strengthened supervision of local farms and markets.

The authority has intensified disease monitoring and infection control in public hospitals. Hospital staff will keep close watch over visiting patients and enforce triage assessment and appropriate segregation at waiting areas in line with clinical guidelines.

Besides, all 30 local chicken farms will be inspected within two days to ensure that their chickens are healthy and biosecurity and health measures are followed strictly.

The Center for Food Safety has contacted with its mainland counterparts in search of the infection source. Once the source is located, an area within 13 km radius will be declared an import control zone. Imports of live poultry and poultry products will be suspended for 21 days in the zone.

"At the moment, it is an isolated case. We feel that there is no need for panic among Hong Kong citizens," said York Chow, the Secretary for Food and Health of the city government, while addressing media earlier in the day:tiphat:http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/06/02/3141s703570.htm
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

York Chow: latest H5 flu case not infectious


June 02, 2012


Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow today said a two-year-old boy?s influenza A H5 infection is likely an isolated incident, and the chance of it being spread to other people is relatively low. He urged the public not to panic.

After the meeting of the steering committee on avian influenza this morning, Dr Chow said the boy?s parents and grandmother have no flu symptoms, which suggests this case is not likely infectious.

Dr Chow said the boy had been to poultry markets in Guangdong, but experts are still investigating where he had caught the virus.

He added that the Centre for Food Safety has liaised with its Mainland counterparts. The centre will announce the area within a 13km radius of the infected area to be the import control zone for temporary suspension of importing live poultry and poultry products to Hong Kong for 21 days once the source of infection is located.

No registered farm supplying live poultry to Hong Kong is within the 13km radius of the boy's home, he said.


The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will inspect all 30 local chicken farms within two days to confirm the health condition of chickens at local farms and ensure that all biosecurity and health measures are followed strictly.
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[sharon sanders]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Latest radiological imaging studies showed obstructive hydrocephalus.

"Obstructive Hydrocephalus is a potentially dangerous condition where the normal drainage of spinal fluid out of the brain?s ventricles is blocked and the resulting pressure build-up can cause headaches, nausea, blurred vision, double vision, or in severe cases even loss of consciousness..."

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...che/conditions/obstructive_hydrocephalus.html

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

"Obstructive Hydrocephalus is a potentially dangerous condition where the normal drainage of spinal fluid out of the brain?s ventricles is blocked and the resulting pressure build-up can cause headaches, nausea, blurred vision, double vision, or in severe cases even loss of consciousness..."

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...che/conditions/obstructive_hydrocephalus.html

From Annals of Emergency Medicine:

Abstract
http://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(97)70227-0/abstract


Acute Obstructive Hydrocephalus and Sudden Death in Children


Study objective:
Sudden death from obstructive hydrocephalus related to intracranial neoplasms has rarely been reported in the pediatric literature. We sought to review the presenting signs and symptoms of acute hydrocephalus resulting from intracranial mass lesions to guide clinicians in the early identification of these potentially reversible lesions.

Methods:
All cases of sudden unexpected death attributable to obstructive hydrocephalus that occurred from 1990 through 1994 at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:
During the study period, seven children, ages 10 months to 15 years, died unexpectedly with acute obstructive hydrocephalus. Six children were apparently normal, and none had any known neurologic disease. All patients had a previously undiagnosed intracranial tumor located at a critical site for CSF flow: colloid cyst (n=2), astrocytoma (n=2), ependymoma (n=2), suspected lymphoma (n=1). Presenting features included vomiting in all cases, vomiting for longer than 2 weeks in three, headache in four, and lethargy in three. Five patients were misdiagnosed with viral illnesses, including three with presumed gastroenteritis who received intravenous rehydration therapy. Focal gastrointestinal signs were absent.

Conclusion:
This case series highlights a life-threatening but misleading presentation of intracranial tumors. The diagnosis of gastroenteritis should be made cautiously when headache and vomiting occur in the absence of focal intestinal complaints. A history of vomiting exceeding a few days' duration warrants further investigation. Persistent lethargy should be considered a neurologic rather than a nonspecific clinical sign. Heightened awareness of this neurosurgical emergency may lead to swift intervention and potential reversibility with diversion of CSF.

[Shemie S, Jay V, Rutka J, Armstrong D: Acute obstructive hydrocephalus and sudden death in children. Ann Emerg Med April 1997; 29:524-528.]

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[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

"Obstructive Hydrocephalus is a potentially dangerous condition where the normal drainage of spinal fluid out of the brain?s ventricles is blocked and the resulting pressure build-up can cause headaches, nausea, blurred vision, double vision, or in severe cases even loss of consciousness..."

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...che/conditions/obstructive_hydrocephalus.html

Source: Wiley Interscience: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.1975.tb04710.x/abstract

Hydrocephalus and Viral Infections

Richard T. Johnson
Article first published online: 12 NOV 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1975.tb04710.x

SUMMARY

In the study of virus-induced hydrocephalus in experimental animals, a surprising finding has been that while a number of viruses do not cause acute clinical disease, they do affect ependymal cells and this results later in non-inflammatory aqueductal stenosis. This finding supports the hypothesis that aqueductal stenosis results from injury to a normally developed structure and suggests that viral infections are a potential cause of this ?developmental? defect.

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[Giuseppe]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province

"Obstructive Hydrocephalus is a potentially dangerous condition where the normal drainage of spinal fluid out of the brain?s ventricles is blocked and the resulting pressure build-up can cause headaches, nausea, blurred vision, double vision, or in severe cases even loss of consciousness..."

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...che/conditions/obstructive_hydrocephalus.html

Source: Springerlink, http://www.springerlink.com/content/dkr753h127l577g8/


NEUROCRITICAL CARE
Volume 13, Number 3 (2010), 396-406, DOI: 10.1007/s12028-010-9436-0
Published in partnership with Neurocritical Care Society

PRACTICAL PEARL

H1N1 Encephalitis with Malignant Edema and Review of Neurologic Complications from Influenza

Paul Taylor Akins, John Belko, Timothy M. Uyeki, Yekaterina Axelrod, Kenneth K. Lee and James Silverthorn


Abstract

Background
Influenza virus infection of the respiratory tract is associated with a range of neurologic complications. The emergence of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus has been linked to neurological complications, including encephalopathy and encephalitis.

Methods
Case report and literature review.

Results
We reviewed case management of a 20-year old Hispanic male who developed febrile upper respiratory tract signs and symptoms followed by a confusional state. He had rapid neurologic decline and his clinical course was complicated by refractory seizures and malignant brain edema. He was managed with oseltamavir and peramavir, corticosteroids, intravenous gamma globulin treatment, anticonvulsants, intracranial pressure management with external ventricular drain placement, hyperosmolar therapy, sedation, and mechanical ventilation. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of nasal secretions confirmed 2009 H1N1 virus infection; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was negative for 2009 H1N1 viral RNA. Follow-up imaging demonstrated improvement in brain edema but restricted diffusion in the basal ganglia. We provide a review of the clinical spectrum of neurologic complications of seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1, and current approaches towards managing these complications.

Conclusions
2009 H1N1-associated acute encephalitis and encephalopathy appear to be variable in severity, including a subset of patients with a malignant clinical course complicated by high morbidity and mortality. Since the H1N1 influenza virus has not been detected in the CSF or brain tissue in patients with this diagnosis, the emerging view is that the host immune response plays a key role in pathogenesis.

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[Treyfish]

Re: China - Boy, 2, positive for H5N1 hospitalized in Hong Kong, lives in Guangdong province - possible exposure from live ducks at wet market

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=4 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=style11><TABLE border=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD height=15 width="85%">Bird flu boy in serious condition </TD><TD width="15%">

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- headline--></TD></TR><TR><TD>03-06-2012

</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style13><!-- content -->The Centre for Health Protection has said a two-year-old boy infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus is now in serious condition in hospital. However, the Health Secretary, York Chow, has described the case as an isolated incident, and urged the public not to panic.
Dr Chow said the boy was a Hong Kong ID card holder who lived with his parents in Guangzhou. He said he had been to poultry markets in the city - but experts could not be sure where he had caught the virus. Dr Chow said a renewed ban on live poultry ban from the mainland was unlikely, although officials would remain vigilant:tiphat:http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?hightlight&20120603&56&844941

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