Press Releases
Steering Committee on Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic holds meeting
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, today (December 9)
convened a meeting of the Steering Committee on Serious Response Level under
the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic to discuss and follow up on the
latest development of the two confirmed human cases of avian influenza
A(H7N9) in Hong Kong and relevant contingency measures with the departments
concerned.
The Hospital Authority (HA) briefed the Steering Committee on the condition
of the two patients. The 36-year-old female patient, who was confirmed of
being infected with avian influenza A(H7N9) on December 2, is still under
quarantine treatment at the intensive care unit of the Queen Mary Hospital.
Her condition has improved from "critical" to "serious" last night. She no
longer has fever and does not need the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
machine for respiration. As for the case confirmed on December 6 involving
an 80-year-old male patient, the patient is in stable condition with slight
fever. He will continue to receive treatment under isolation in the Princess
Margaret Hospital and further testing will be conducted.
Epidemiological investigation by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of
the Department of Health is still proceeding, including tracing close
contacts and the source of infection. Regarding the 36-year-old female
patient, the number of close contacts remains at 17. Twelve of them
completed quarantine. Among these 12 close contacts, 11 have returned home
and are under medical surveillance for another 10 days, while one remains in
hospital for treatment of personal health problems. The remaining five close
contacts remain under quarantine for 10 days. Counting from the day when
they had last contact with the patient, today is the last day of their
quarantine. Meanwhile, there are about 230 other contacts under medical
surveillance.
For the 80-year-old male patient, the specimens of his 19 close contacts are
all tested negative for the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. They will be put
under quarantine for 10 days since their last contact with the patient.
About 140 other contacts are under medical surveillance.
Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung under the Leisure and Cultural
Services Department (LCSD) is still being used as a quarantine centre.
Currently, six asymptomatic close contacts of the second case are under
quarantine in the centre.
According to the latest information available, the Steering Committee
maintains their view that the two cases are imported sporadic cases. In
addition to notifying the relevant Mainland authorities of the two confirmed
cases, CHP and HA sent officers to visit Shenzhen this morning to meet with
officials from the Health and Family Planning Commission and the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City
respectively, and clinical experts, etc.. Both sides exchanged the latest
findings on the epidemiological investigations of the two confirmed cases.
According to the current investigation result, the patient of the first
confirmed case might have visited a residential unit in Nanwan Subdistrict
of Longgang District in Shenzhen and handled a live chicken. However, the
patient was unable to speak clearly the source of the chicken. For the
second case, family members of the patient bought and cooked a slaughtered
chicken from a market in Fuyong Town in Shenzhen. However, the patient did
not visit live poultry market nor had contact with live poultry directly.
The Mainland authorities have started the relevant investigations and taken
samples for testing. So far, no positive testing results were found. Both
Guangdong and Hong Kong are of the view that the source of infection of the
two cases is yet to be confirmed. Both sides have agreed to maintain close
liaison and continue to exchange the latest information.
With regard to imported live poultry, Hong Kong has suspended import of live
poultry from the registered poultry farms in Shenzhen since December 3 as an
urgent and special precautionary measure. The suspension will remain in
effect. Once more information on the source of infection comes to light, the
Government will review and adjust the arrangement with the Shenzhen
inspection and quarantine authority according to the latest situation.
Regarding local live poultry retail outlets, poultry farms and wholesale
market, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will continue to
conduct inspections, step up cleansing and disinfection efforts as well as
collect samples from poultry and wild bird environment for testing of avian
influenza. The two departments have been working and co-operating closely
with the Customs and Excise Department to check travellers' baggage at
boundary control points with the assistance of detector dogs to combat
illegal import of live poultry/poultry meat into Hong Kong. The Government
will also enhance publicity and education programmes to remind the public
not to import live poultry/ poultry meat illegally.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation and maintain
transparency in disseminating information to the public. Relevant
departments will stay vigilant to ensure various contingency measures are
implemented properly and make adjustments in a timely manner.
The Government reminds the public again to maintain good personal and
environmental hygiene; wash hands frequently; and avoid contact with wild
birds and animals. While travelling abroad, the public should avoid contact
with birds and poultry to minimise the risk of infections.
The meeting today comprises representatives from CHP of the Department of
Health, HA, FEHD, AFCD, the Education Bureau, the Commerce and Economic
Development Bureau, Tourism Commission, the Home Affairs Department, the
Information Services Department, the Social Welfare Department and the LCSD.
Ends/Monday, December 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:16
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