13 May 2009
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 13) called on travellers who had arrived in Hong Kong in the evening of May 11 from San Francisco by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific Airlines (flight no. CX 879, codeshare American Airlines (AA6079), to call the DH hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate surveillance of their health conditions by the health authority.
People who had travelled on Virgin America(flight no.VX 1961) from Las Vegas to San Francisco on May 10 are also urged to call the hotline.
The appeal was made following the confirmation of a case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) involving a male passenger who had taken the two flights concerned.
The spokesman said results of laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the patient yielded positive for human swine influenza today.
"The patient is a Hong Kong resident who had fever on May 6 when he was in the United States. He developed cough and sore throat on May 8.
He met his three family members at the airport where he attended a clinic. He was subsequently taken from airport to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) by ambulance and was admitted to an isolation ward. He is now in stable condition.
The patient's family members had no symptoms of influenza and have been arranged to stay at Lady MacLehose Holiday Camp for quarantine up to May 18.
"The patient sat at row 62 while he was traveling on CX879. According to the Immigration Department, 45 of the 51 passengers who sat on row 62 or within three rows in front of and three rows behind row 62 on CX879 have already left Hong Kong. The other six who are currently in Hong Kong have been traced.
"The six passengers and crew members of the flight who had served the cabin concerned will also be taken to MacLehose Holiday Camp for quarantine," the spokesman said.
Investigations have revealed that the patient had travelled with an acquaintance while in the United States from April 29 to May 10.
The acquaintance, who is also a Hong Kong resident, claimed to have onset of respiratory symptoms since May 11 while she was in the United States. She arrived in Hong Kong from Toronto on May 12 and is currently isolated in PMH in stable condition. She had no fever on admission.
Preliminary test of the respiratory sample taken from her was negative for human swine influenza. Another respiratory sample taken from her for testing today also yielded the same result.
The Centre for Health Protection is conducting further contact tracing and follow up. Investigations into the case are ongoing.