Press Releases
SFH on human case of influenza A (H5N1)
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session
regarding a human case of influenza A (H5N1) at the West Wing lobby of
Central Government Offices today (November 17):
Reporter: Is there a risk for a community outbreak right now? Will the
passengers on the same plane be traced?
Secretary for Food and Health: According to our existing analysis, there is
no sign of human to human transmission. Most of the H5N1 infections are now
transmitted from poultry to human. So I think we have to first concentrate
on the source of infection from the poultry as origin. Of course, we need to
trace all the contacts that this patient has with particularly close
contact. The risk of travelling together when she came back to Hong Kong
without any symptoms is extremely slim. But we will be concentrating on
people who were in contact with her when she showed symptoms and also when
she was in Hong Kong.
Reporter: When can we say for sure that this case is an imported or local
case?
Secretary for Food and Health: I don't think we can say for certain this is
an imported case or local case. According to the authorities and also the
World Health Organisation, the incubation period of influenza can be as long
as about two weeks. And this patient has developed her first symptom one day
after she arrived back in Hong Kong. So of course when you look at that, the
chances of she catching it is most likely in Mainland, but you cannot really
rule out whether that is in Hong Kong as well, because even within a day,
sometimes the incubation can be as short as that. We try to rule out
everything according to the other circumstantial evidence in terms of
contacts and also the viral studies. The viral studies might be the best
indicator whether this is a virus from more Northern part of China or in the
Southern part of China.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:17
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