24 Apr 2009
In response to media enquiries on reported cases of human infection with swine influenza in the United States, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 24) said the CHP was closely monitoring the progress of investigation being conducted by its US counterparts.
The spokesman said the CHP had approached the WHO for updated information of this outbreak. Information so far available revealed that the seven people infected with swine influenza had developed mild diseases and all of them had recovered.
He said that the CHP had a sensitive laboratory surveillance system for influenza virus and human case of swine influenza had not been found in Hong Kong since 2001.
"The CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) will conduct subtyping of all influenza isolates collected and is capable of doing further genetic analysis of influenza isolates to detect swine influenza.
"The PHLC detected a case of H3N2 swine influenza in 1999 and a case of H1N1 swine influenza in 2001. The two cases, involved a 10-month-old girl and a four-month-old girl respectively, presented with mild symptoms and made full recovery.
The spokesman added that influenza occurred all year round in Hong Kong and the public should always observe personal and environmental hygiene to prevent infection.