27 May 2009
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 27) said that DH is investigating two newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).
The first case involved a four-year-old boy who returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon of May 24 from Korea by taking a flight of Korean Air (flight no. KE613).
The boy travelled with his father, his aunt and cousin to Vancouver from May 12 to 20, and then to Korea from May 21 to 24.
"He had onset of cough, runny nose and low grade fever on May 21 when he arrived in Korea and sought medical treatment there.
"His symptoms subsided on May 23. He boarded the plane to Hong Kong on May 24 and he sat in row 40," the spokesman said.
DH's investigation showed that the boy and his father took an airport bus to their home in Siu Lun Court, Tuen Mun.
He stayed at home and did not go to school.
The boy developed fever on May 26 again and consulted a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. His father took him to the Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital on the same day and was admitted to the hospital.
Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the boy yielded positive result for human swine influenza today.
The boy has been transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for isolation.
The boy's cousin, a 17-year-old girl, also developed upper respiratory symptoms today and has been taken to Queen Mary Hospital for observation.
The boy's parents, a domestic helper, and his aunt are asymptomatic and will also be taken to hospitals for observation.
DH is now tracing passengers sitting on rows 37 - 43 of KE613 arrived in Hong Kong on May 24, crew members of the flight who had served the cabin concerned as well as other close contact of the boy.
Passengers who had travelled on the flight are urged to call the DH's Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111.
The second case involved the mother of the two children who were confirmed to have been infected with human swine influenza on May 25.
The woman was admitted to PMH on May 25 for observation. She accepted Tamiflu treatment only after developing headache, cough and fever yesterday evening.
Laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from her yielded positive for human swine influenza today.
Her husband and the domestic helper are asymptomatic.
Investigations into the cases are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the spokesman called on members of the public to advise their children, relatives or friends coming to Hong Kong from abroad to defer their trips if they developed symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.
"To protect their own health and that of other travellers, they should seek medical attention where they are.
"If they feel unwell on the plane, they should wear a face mask and inform cabin crew immediately," the spokesman said.