6 May 2009
Four Mexican travellers, comprising two who have been quarantined in Metropark Hotel in Wan Chai and another two in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) following the confirmation of a case of human swine influenza (influenza A H1N1) in Hong Kong on May 1, left the territory for Mexico on a chartered flight early this morning (May 6).
A spokesman for the Department of Health said the Consulate General of Mexico signed an undertaking with the Hong Kong Government yesterday to make all necessary arrangements to continue the quarantine of the four persons on board the aircraft and after landing in Mexico until May 8 to prevent the possible transmission of human swine influenza.
"The four Mexican concerned will be taken care of on the flight by professional medical staff deployed by the Mexican Government," the spokesman said.
Laboratory tests on respiratory specimens collected from the two quarantined in PMH yielded negative result for human swine influenza. The two quarantined in Metropark Hotel have so far developed no influenza symptoms.
Quarantine orders imposed on other people in connection with the case would be withdrawn when the orders expire later this week, provided that they show no symptoms of human swine influenza infection.
Meanwhile, the Mexican male infected with human swine influenza is still under treatment in PMH. He is in stable conditions.