28 May 2009
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 28) said that the department is investigating two newly confirmed cases of human swine influenza (HSI - Influenza A H1N1). This brings to 15 the total number of HSI cases in Hong Kong.
The first newly confirmed case involved an 18-year-old woman studying in Toronto. She returned to Hong Kong with her mother and elder brother on May 26 by taking a flight of Air Canada (flight no. AC015). She sat in row 5 of the flight.
The patient had onset of low grade fever, cough and headache after arrival. She sought medical attention at a private hospital in Happy Valley on May 27 and was subsequently transferred to Queen Mary Hospital by ambulance for isolation.
Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from her yielded positive result for human swine influenza today.
Investigations revealed that the patient, her mother and brother took the Airport Express to Central where they were driven to their home in Jardine's Lookout by a private car.
Her home contacts are asymptomic.
DH is now tracing passengers sitting in rows 4 to 6 of AC015 and the crew members of the flight who had served the cabin concerned. They are urged to call the DH hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate surveillance of their health condition by the health authorities.
The second case involved a 20-year-old woman studying in the United States. She and her parents arrived in Hong Kong on May 25 from New Jersey by a flight of Continental Airlines (flight no. CO99). They took an Airport bus to their home in Kowloon City.
The woman developed swollen neck nodes on May 26 and had cough and fever in the morning of May 27. She sought medical consultation at a private clinic near her home in the afternoon of May 27 and was advised by the private doctor to go to hospital for further inspection. She then went home where she was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance for isolation.
Laboratory analysis on respiratory sample taken from her yielded positive result for human swine influenza today.
All her home contacts have been taken to hospital for observation.
Investigations into the two 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.