Hong Kong: CHP investigates imported human case of avian influenza H7N9, ex- Guangdong province, China - March 18, 2016

[tetano]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (March 18) investigating the second imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) infection in Hong Kong this year affecting an 81-year-old woman.

The patient, with underlying illnesses, travelled to Kaiping, Guangdong on March 5. She has presented with malaise, headache, shortness of breath and fever since March 10 and was admitted to a hospital in Kaiping between March 14 and 16. Upon return to Hong Kong on March 17, she attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre on the same day and was subsequently admitted for management of pneumonia.

The patient's nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus upon laboratory testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP. The patient has been admitted to the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre (HAIDC) in Princess Margaret Hospital for further management. She is now in stable condition.

Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient visited a wet market near her residence in Kaiping during her stay in the Mainland and reported no direct poultry contact. Among 11 close contacts of the patient identified so far, two daughters have developed headache and malaise since March 16 and 17 respectively. They have been transferred to HAIDC for management. Other close contacts remain asymptomatic. Tracing of the patient?s contact in Hong Kong is ongoing.

The CHP's investigation is continuing.

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2...1603181052.htm

 

[sharon sanders]

A previous case - man, aged 59 and a resident of Kaiping city, Jiangmen region, died on February 18 due to an H7N9 infection. He apparently had contact with live birds. link

#737 - Male, 59, announced by Hong Kong CHP on February 18, Jiangmen, Guangdong province

 

[tetano]

[h=2]Update on imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9)[/h]

19 March 2016​

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 19) reported an update on the second imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong this year.

The 81-year-old female patient is still under isolation and management in the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital. She remains in stable condition.

Epidemiological investigations by the CHP have so far identified 11 close contacts and 56 other contacts of the patient.

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 11 close contacts comprise:

• The patient's two symptomatic daughters. Their nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) tested negative for influenza A virus; and
• Nine asymptomatic relatives.

B. Other contacts

The 56 other contacts will be put under medical surveillance. They include other patients and healthcare workers in Caritas Medical Centre (CMC), ambulance officers involved in patient transfer, an immigration officer involved upon patient's arrival in Hong Kong and other relatives of the 81-year-old female patient. Among them, one patient admitted to the same cubicle as the 81-year-old female patient in CMC was symptomatic and her NPA tested negative for H7. The remaining other contacts are all asymptomatic.

Investigations and contact tracing are ongoing.

http://www.dh.gov.hk/english/press/2016/160319-3.html